Thursday broker round-up
16th Aug 2012 10:06
Aegis: UBS downgrades to neutral. Babcock: Espirito Santo downgrades to neutral. Balfour Beeatty: HB Markets downgrades to hold; Deutsche Bank downgrades to hold. BG Group: Morgan Stanley downgrades to equal weight. Capital Shopping Centres: Oriel Securities upgrades to hold. Carclo: N+1 Brewin
Read moreLondon open: Mixed start; African Barrick jumps
16th Aug 2012 08:39
- African Barrick up as China Gold shows interest - Markets continue to sift through global economic data - Wen sees 'growing room for policy operation' London's benchmark index was broadly flat on Thursday morning as investors continue to digest a raft of economic data that has been released over
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stimulus hopes to boost Footsie
16th Aug 2012 07:26
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 17 points from yesterday's close of 5,833, boosted by hopes of further economic stimulus from central banks across the globe. Overnight China revealed that its foreign direct investment declined 8.7% to $7.6bn in July, compared to the same month the p
Read moreMicro Focus shareholders to get cash return
16th Aug 2012 07:07
Shareholders of software group Micro Focus are in for a windfall of 50p per share after the company proposed a cash return and share consolidation on Thursday. The cash return, which will cost Micro Focus $130m in total, is subject to shareholder approval and will be implemented by way of a B and C
Read moreBroker tips: Standard Life, ITV, Micro Focus
14th Aug 2012 12:35
Panmure Gordon has raised its recommendation for insurance giant Standard Life from 'hold' to 'buy' and hiked its target price for the stock from 240p to 295p, saying that the group was 'shooting the lights out' with its first-half results. "These interim results are very strong and we believe will
Read moreBroker snap: UBS upgrades Micro Focus to 'buy'
14th Aug 2012 10:48
UBS has upgraded its rating for business software firm Micro Focus International (MCRO) from 'neutral' to 'buy' and raised its target price from 570p to 600p, saying that the group's promise of high cash returns outweigh its modest growth prospects. "At a recent analyst day, MCRO portrayed itself a
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
14th Aug 2012 09:29
BTG: Jefferies cuts target from 410p to 360p, hold rating kept. Capital & Counties: Jefferies initiates coverage with buy rating and 249p target. Centamin: Investec maintains buy rating and 95p target. Daily Mail & General Trust: UBS raises target from 380p to 465p, neutral rating kept. Dragon O
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
11th Jul 2012 08:10
ASOS: HSBC downgrades to neutral, target lifted from 1,780p to 1,950p. Avanti Communications: Jefferies reiterates buy rating and 600p target. Aviva: Morgan Stanley upgrades to overweight. Balfour Beatty: UBS downgrades to neutral, target cut from 340p to 310p. BTG: Jefferies downgrades from buy
Read moreFriday broker round-up
22nd Jun 2012 10:37
Ashtead: UBS raises target from 320p to 340p, buy rating unchanged. Avon Rubber: Investec downgrades to hold, keeps 315p target. BAE Systems: Investec downgrades to hold, target cut from 360p to 290p Bovis Homes: Liberum Capital downgrades to hold. Cobham: Investec downgrades to sell, target cut
Read moreLondon close: Gloomy US data dents stocks further
21st Jun 2012 16:24
- Philly Fed manufacturing and other US data disappoints - No QE3 boost from the Fed - Chinese and Eurozone PMIs paint gloomy picture The Footsie closed near its lowest levels of the day on Thursday afternoon after a raft of economic indicators from the US disappointed, just one day after the Feder
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Invensys drops after bid talks fizzle out
21st Jun 2012 15:34
Following a massive jump the day before on the back of bid speculation, shares of Invensys plummeted on Thursday after it said that while rumours of an approach from Emerson Electric proved to be correct, these discussions 'are no longer ongoing'. The maker of rail signalling and industrial automa
Read moreLondon midday: Economic data drives stocks lower
21st Jun 2012 11:30
- Chinese, Eurozone PMIs paint gloomy picture - Spanish banking-sector audits due today - Miners, oil stocks fall Disappointing economic data, a negative revision to US growth and rising bond yields in Spain combined to put downward pressure on UK stocks on Thursday, with the Footsie trading firmly
Read moreBroker tips: Unilever, WPP, Micro Focus
21st Jun 2012 11:26
Investec has labelled consumer goods giant Unilever a 'warm hold', saying that while upside to the share price is limited, the company is better-placed than struggling peers Proctor and Gamble and Danone. "While P&G and Danone's profit warnings serve to remind that this is not a time for complacenc
Read moreBroker snap: Cash generation at Micro Focus impresses
21st Jun 2012 11:24
Merchant Securities has initiated coverage of Micro Focus International with a 'buy' rating and 530p target price, saying that the group knows 'how to put cash to good work'. The legacy software specialist's full-year results were broadly in line with expectations, the broker says, with revenues co
Read moreThursday broker round-up
21st Jun 2012 09:13
ARM Holdings: Investec maintains buy rating and 800p target. Ashtead: Jefferies ups target from 300p to 320p, buy rating retained. Bellway: Goldman Sachs downgrades to neutral. British Land: Societe Generale downgrades to sell. CRH: HSBC upgrades to overweight. Dignity: Goldman Sachs downgrades
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