London midday: Footsie tops 5,900
20th Dec 2010 12:00
Things turned around dramatically in the hour before lunch as the session came alive after a rather dull start, nudging a 2½-year high by midday. Defensive issues are still going well. National Grid, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas owner Centrica are expected to benefit from the cold sn
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Mixed day for retailers
29th Nov 2010 15:49
Retailers are mixed today, with baby products group Mothercare a top riser, but department store Debenhams in the red. With company news thin on the ground today, stocks that updated the market last week are some of today's big movers. Buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon, which reported a sharp in
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Balfour Beatty climbs after pension agreement
26th Nov 2010 15:45
Investors in infrastructure specialist Balfour Beatty applauded its agreement with the trustees of the company's pension fund to tackle the company's £375m pension fund deficit. Retail-related stocks are also in demand, with baby products group Mothercare, grocery delivery firm Ocado and fashion gr
Read moreBroker tips: InterContinental, Mothercare, Gem Diamonds
25th Nov 2010 13:10
Nomura says that the long-term growth potential for hotel giant InterContinental Hotels (IHG) lies in the opportunity in emerging markets. IHG expects the size of the Chinese hotel market to more than double from 2.3m to 4.8m rooms by 2020, predicting that it will surpass the size of the US hotel m
Read moreBroker snap: Smaller premium merited for Mothercare
25th Nov 2010 11:01
While Mothercare has many strengths, including its international exposure, finnCap believes that its current premium to sector peers is too wide and remains a seller. Based on projected calendar 2010 and 2011 earnings, the mother and baby retailer trades at a 2-point and 2.5-point price earnings ra
Read moreLondon close: Footsie sluggish as Ireland hogs limelight
17th Nov 2010 16:52
Footsie limped to a slightly higher finish on a sluggish day dominated by uncertainty over the Irish debt situation. Ireland appeared close to accepting a European bailout Wednesday ahead of a visit from European Union and International Monetary Fund experts the following day. The discussions shoul
Read moreLondon afternoon: Waiting for the dust to clear
17th Nov 2010 14:35
Investors continue to adopt a wait and see approach, biding their time until the Irish debt situation becomes clearer. UK economic news has been good, but not amazingly so. There was an unexpected fall in unemployment in October and a widely-anticipated three-way split in views on the Bank of Engla
Read moreBroker tips: Burberry, Informa, Mothercare
17th Nov 2010 12:45
Despite Burberry's first half results beating forecasts, Nomura has maintained its neutral stance on the stock, not seeing much in the near term to excite investors. Several elements of the fashion retailer's business have given "confidence in the opportunity for continued profit growth", says the
Read moreLondon midday: Shares struggle for direction
17th Nov 2010 12:00
Traders find themselves unsure which way to move with economic and company news and the intensification of the Irish debt situation giving them plenty to ponder. Chancellor George Osborne says Britain is ready to step in to help Ireland, given our close interdependence with its economy. Meanwhile,
Read moreBroker snap: UK sales disappoint at Mothercare
17th Nov 2010 10:54
Mothercare's interims disappointed finnCap, particularly the weakness of the UK operation, leaving the broker disinclined to change its negative view of the stock. The adjusted pre-tax profit for the half year to October stood at £12.2m, below the £12.9m finnCap expected. "What's more, this was del
Read moreMothercare H1 profits bounce
17th Nov 2010 07:14
Mother and baby retailer Mothercare produced a 22% surge in half yearly profit and increased its dividend as global sales continued to flourish compared to a weaker UK performance. For the 28 weeks ended 9 October 2010 underlying pre-tax profit increased to £12.2m. Group sales were up 2.5% at £397.
Read moreWednesday preview: Experian, ICAP, BoE minutes
16th Nov 2010 18:36
Credit checking specialist Experian is set to deliver a solid set of first half results, according to broker Charles Stanley, which reckons pre-tax profit will edge up to $440m from $430m last year. For the first half Experian is targeting mid single-digit organic revenue growth and earnings before
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Mothercare, WH Smith, Standard Chartered...
15th Oct 2010 06:40
Yesterday's second-quarter trading update from Mothercare was rather a mixed bag with the majority of the good news due to the babycare retailer's "rapid" international growth. The UK retail market was still "uncertain" and the City was taking a guarded view of the company's prospects. The retailer
Read moreLondon close: Weak end to dull day
14th Oct 2010 16:35
Leading shares closed lower on a poor day for the banks and a tumble for African Barrick. Fears that Standard Chartered's rights issue yesterday could be the start of a flood of cash calls unsettled Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays. Metal prices are back on the rise as the dollar heads
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie bottoms out
14th Oct 2010 14:17
Leading shares trod water over the lunchtime session, leaving Footsie still stranded in the red. Banks remain in the doldrums. Fears that Standard Chartered's rights issue yesterday could be the start of a flood of cash calls has unsettled Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays. Metal prices
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