London open: Footsie marks time
15th Feb 2011 08:57
A limp performance in the US overnight and a tricky session in Asia this morning has resulted in London trading sideways in early dealings. Barclays has cut its staff bonuses by 7% even though profits jumped by a better than expected 32% as bad charges tumbled everywhere except Spain. Pre-tax profi
Read moreMicro Focus battered after second profit warning
15th Feb 2011 07:41
Shares in legacy software specialist Micro Focus slumped on Tuesday as the company issued its second profits warning in six months. Revenues in the three months to 31 January 2011 were on a par with the preceding six months but were below management expectations, while adjusted earnings before int
Read moreTuesday preview: Barclays, InterContinental Hotels, inflation
14th Feb 2011 16:48
Results from Barclays on Tuesday are as likely to feature on the front pages as they are on the City pages. Market consensus is for profit before tax for 2010 of £5.54bn, up from 2009's £4.59bn. Revenue is slated to rise to £30.25bn from £29.95bn in 2009. "The key trends in the third quarter resu
Read moreBroker tips: Micro Focus, K3, Hightex
23rd Dec 2010 13:25
Investors spooked by the chairman of Micro Focus, Kevin Loosemore, selling a third of his shareholding in the business software maker might feel a lot more sanguine about the company's prospects once they know the circumstances behind the sale, Panmure Gordon reckons. "Mr. and Mrs. Loosemore have j
Read moreBroker snap: Micro Focus oversold
23rd Dec 2010 13:02
Investors spooked by the chairman of Micro Focus , Kevin Loosemore, selling a third of his shareholding in the business software maker might feel a lot more sanguine about the company's prospects once they know the circumstances behind the sale, Panmure Gordon reckons. "Mr. and Mrs. Loosemore have
Read moreTechMARK movers: ARM hopes for Microsoft leg up
22nd Dec 2010 12:34
Chip designer ARM is higher on hopes for a new Microsoft operating system. Microsoft is expected to announce a new operating system for hand-held touch screen computers that would use ARM's technology. Rival chip designer CSR has risen in sympathy even though broker Panmure Gordon says that it e
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Stagecoach, Game, Hochschild
9th Dec 2010 06:38
While bus and rail group Stagecoach shares have had their ups and downs recently, the trend has been positive and after a spending review-related wobble they are firmly back on track. While there's an argument for taking profits, the Independent thinks that those who hang on in there will be rewar
Read moreLondon close: Footsie slips back on sluggish day
8th Dec 2010 16:56
Shares struggled to snap out of their earlier sluggishness all day, closing just a few points in the red. Bid-related activity was the main source of excitement. Medical devices group Smith & Nephew was swept more than 9% higher by talk of a possible acquisition. US private equity firms are though
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus rises as profit surges
8th Dec 2010 15:35
Business software maker Micro Focus bucked the downward trend to lead the risers after reporting a sharp increase in half year profit saying expectations for the full year remain unchanged. The group, which provides software solutions to manage and update existing applications for clients such as
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie loses grip
8th Dec 2010 15:19
The 5,800 level is under pressure as a weak start on Wall Street begins to drag London back into negative territory. Insurers Prudential, Aviva and Resolution are doing their best to keep the market's head above water, but losses in the mining sector - Rio Tinto, Randgold and Anglo American have fa
Read moreBroker tips: Diageo, Game, Micro Focus
8th Dec 2010 13:57
The recovery in the global spirits market looks like it's still "on track", keeping Nomura positive on big players Diageo and Pernod. Japanese broker Nomura repeats its 'buy' rating on the pair and sees trading news improving for both over the next few quarters. Look out for Diageo North America's
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure raises Micro Focus target
8th Dec 2010 12:17
Panmure Gordon has increased its target price for Micro Focus International after interims matched guidance. The results provided no surprises, but the broker was impressed by cash collection figures and slightly increased the target price for shares in the business software maker to 467p from 460p
Read moreLondon midday: Retail stocks take centre stage
8th Dec 2010 12:08
Footsie is in sluggish mode today although there is some excitement among retail-related stocks. Figures from the British Retail Council show shop price inflation fell for the first time in five months in November as nervous retailers slashed prices to make sure shoppers splash out in the run-up to
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips head lower
8th Dec 2010 08:57
London has opened lower as a bullish mood in the US following a two-year extension to tax cuts faded by the close last night. Smith & Nephew is the best performer by some distance, while Royal Dutch Shell is also higher after an upgrade to equal-weight from underweight from Morgan Stanley. The dea
Read moreProfit surges at Micro Focus
8th Dec 2010 07:33
Business software maker Micro Focus posted a sharp increase in half year profit and said company expectations for the full year remain unchanged. The group, which provides software solutions to manage and update existing applications for clients such as supermarket chain Tesco, said pre-tax profit
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