UPDATE: Friday broker round-up
23rd Sep 2011 09:42
Tesco: Evolution upgrades from sell to neutral. Tesco: Nomura keeps its buy recommendation. Kingfisher: Nomura reiterates buy rating. Carnival: Charles Stanley keeps accumulate rating. HSBC: Evolution Securities maintains sell rating. Euromoney Institutional Investor: Investec retains buy rati
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stable after calm start
15th Aug 2011 12:21
Shares are holding onto their gains today amid much calmer trading than the volatility seen last week. In company news, international recruitment firm Michael Page is sharply lower. It made a flying start to 2011 but said profit growth in the banking sector has tailed off in the second half of the
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 gives up gains, Michael Page slumps
15th Aug 2011 08:28
It could be another volatile day as stocks have already given up most of their gains. Miners are posting good gains but recruiter Michael Page slumps after its half year results. Kazakh copper miner Kazakhmys is the top riser in the FTSE 100. Prices for the red metal have been rising on the London
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie on the front foot
15th Aug 2011 07:35
London's leading shares are set for a bright start with City traders predicting the top-share index will open around 50 points up from Friday's close of 5,320. International recruitment firm Michael Page made a flying start to 2011 but said profit growth in the banking sector has tailed off in the
Read moreMITIE 'extremely positive'
15th Aug 2011 07:02
After just three months outsourcing and energy services firm MITIE had secured 85% if its budgeted revenues for the financial year, as at the end of June. The order book is at record levels and the pipeline of opportunities remains good, the company said. Revenues and earnings are developing in lin
Read moreLondon close: Modest gains for FTSE 100
24th May 2011 16:47
Stocks finished in the blue although off earlier highs and the gains were modest against yesterday's losses. In company news, high street stalwart Marks & Spencer eased even after it said it was winning market share in both clothes and food sales as it posted pre-tax profits in line with expectati
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Victrex jumps on soaring profits
24th May 2011 16:28
Victrex is among the best performers after the plastics group said profit surged 57% and sales volumes rose 22% in the last six months after a strong performance in all of its major markets. Due to MITIE's underperformance against the peer group, Peel Hunt upgraded its rating on the outsourced ser
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 on the ascent
24th May 2011 12:04
Shares are still in positive territory, but the gains are modest compared to yesterday's slide. Higher commodity prices are boosting the likes of South American copper miner Antofagasta and South African platinum miner Lonmin. The banking sector is under pressure though, with Moody's considering d
Read moreBroker snap: MITIE no longer a 'sell'
24th May 2011 11:52
Due to MITIE's underperformance against the peer group, Peel Hunt upgrades its rating on the outsourced services provider, but notes that there are better positioned "outsourcing plays" as opportunities in the public sector increase. The group - which provides facilities, property and asset managem
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Stobart, Vectura, Mitie
24th May 2011 06:25
Yesterday, the logistics group Stobart issued full-year figures, with pre-tax profits falling short of market hopes. But the share price rose as the focus turned to the confident outlook statement. Moreover, the stock is down more than 20% since the recent February peak. That, unsurprisingly, has hi
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slump as euro debt worries continue
23rd May 2011 16:51
The top share index was nursing triple-digit losses by the close of play as the eurozone debt crisis continued to rumble on. The spotlight has turned to Italy, with the ratings agency Standard & Poors changing its stance on the Mediterranean country to "negative" from "stable." The situation is of
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Profits jump at MITIE
23rd May 2011 15:42
Outsourced service provider MITIE is the highest riser of the day after posting a sharp rise in profits for the year to 31 March. Pre-tax profits jumped to £86.8m from £79.7m the previous year on revenues that were up to £1.89bn from £1.72bn. "The opportunities in outsourcing and energy services in
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks slump on euro worries
23rd May 2011 12:04
Stocks are firmly in the red as the eurozone crisis continues to drag on. The spotlight has turned to Italy, with the ratings agency Standard & Poors changing its stance on the Mediterranean country to "negative" from "stable." The situation is of global concern and metals prices have taken a knoc
Read moreLondon open: Stocks dive as euro worries drag on
23rd May 2011 08:30
Continuing worries over the Eurozone debt crisis are casting a shadow over trading this morning, helping send stocks sharply lower. The spotlight has turned to Italy, with the ratings agency Standard & Poors changing its stance on the Mediterranean country to "negative" from "stable." The situatio
Read moreMITIE posts mighty profits rise
23rd May 2011 07:24
Outsourced service provider MITIE said it is benefitting from both private companies and government looking to drive down costs in the current tough climate as it posted a sharp rise in profits for the year to 31 March. Pre-tax profits jumped to £86.8m from £79.7m the previous year on revenues that
Read more