London pre-open: Stocks seen lower as investors continue to digest Brussels attacks
23rd Mar 2016 07:37
(ShareCast News) - London stocks were set to open lower on Tuesday following a mostly negative session in Asia as investors continue to digest the terror attacks in Brussels. The FTSE 100 is seen starting 25 points lower than Tuesday's close at 6,167. "While travel and hotel stocks took a bit of a
Read moreNational Grid picks up HS1's Nicola Shaw
23rd Mar 2016 07:32
(ShareCast News) - National Grid announced its new UK Executive Director on Wednesday, appointing High Speed 1's Nicola Shaw to the role. The FTSE 100 electricity infrastructure firm said the appointment complemented that of John Pettigrew's, who was announced as CEO in November. "Nicola has a stro
Read moreNational Grid hit by Ofgem fine over gas leak failures
22nd Mar 2016 11:17
(ShareCast News) - Regulator Ofgem has hit energy company National Grid with a £3m fine and limited the revenue it can earn from its gas distribution networks by £2m after the company's failure to meet repair and customer satisfaction targets. The FTSE 100 company has agreed with Ofgem to pay £3m, w
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: National Grid, Rolls-Royce, bookmakers
3rd Mar 2016 07:37
(ShareCast News) - The energy regulator Ofgem is to be handed sweeping new powers to manage the country's electricity supplies, switch off factories and request emergency back-up generation, under energy market reforms being considered by Whitehall. Documents seen by The Times show ministers are con
Read moreNational Grid begins share buyback programme
23rd Feb 2016 07:41
(ShareCast News) - National Grid announced the start of a new share buyback programme on Monday, as part of its plan to manage the dilution resulting from the take-up of its scrip dividend. The FTSE 100 firm said the irrevocable and non-discretionary programme would purchase ordinary shares in the c
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: GSK, Sainsbury's, BT, Imagination Technologies
21st Feb 2016 17:23
(ShareCast News) - Financial institutions in the City of London are fairly pleased with David Cameron's agreement with the European Union ahead of June's referendum as it looks to have secured the Square Mile from excessive further Brussels red tape. A potentially painful sticking point has been avo
Read moreUBS sees restructuring potential in Enel, E.On, Engie
13th Jan 2016 13:10
(ShareCast News) - Declines in commodity prices and devaluation in emerging market foreign exchange will take their toll on European utilities this year, analysts at UBS said. The resulting 2% drop in earnings forecast compared poorly with the 7% rise it expected for the market as a whole. Downward
Read moreUBS downgrades National Grid on valuation, regulatory concerns
13th Jan 2016 12:12
(ShareCast News) - UBS downgraded its view on shares of National Grid, arguing that its US business was overvalued and that short-term regulatory risks in the UK had not been priced in. With the stock trading at a 70% premium to its regulated asset value, potential interest rate hikes in the UK and
Read moreNational Grid unlikely to table a bid for ITC Holdings
1st Dec 2015 13:35
(ShareCast News) - A bid from National Grid for US electricity-transmission company ITC Holdings Corp.is unlikely according to the Financial Times's Alphaville blog. According to a report published on Monday, the American outfit was working with financial advisers to seek potential buyers. The news
Read moreNational Grid confirms gas sale talks as earnings surge
10th Nov 2015 07:09
(ShareCast News) - As well as announcing strong first-half earnings growth, National Grid confirmed rumours that it has begun to look at potentially selling a majority stake in its gas distribution business and returning the proceeds to shareholders via a likely special dividend. Adjusted operating
Read moreBroker tips: StanChart, National Grid, United Utilities
9th Nov 2015 16:02
(ShareCast News) - StanChart´s stock looks oversold in the near-term so there is upside to be had in the shares and with the announcement of a rights issue behind us investors will soon be past the point where they are fearful of the risks of dilution a top broker said on Monday. However, there were
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE little changed as investors digest US rate expectations
9th Nov 2015 11:50
(ShareCast News) - Housebuilders were the standout losers on the FTSE 100 after after Friday´s much stronger-than-expected US jobs report for October stoked speculation of rising interest rates worldwide. At midday, the FTSE 100 was off by just 0.69 points or 0.01% to 6,353.11. The latest US non-fa
Read moreCiti eyes special dividend from National Grid after gas sale rumours
9th Nov 2015 09:44
(ShareCast News) - Citi suggested that if National Grid sells its gas distribution business, as claimed in the weekend newspapers, it would use the cash for an acquisition or to pay a special dividend. National Grid directors are weighing up whether to pursue an outright sale of the remaining UK gas
Read moreLondon open: Financials in the lead, homebuilders move lower
9th Nov 2015 08:30
(ShareCast News) - Financials were leading gains on the Footsie early on Monday, with utilities and homebuilders again bearing the brunt of the selling pressure on the top flight index after Friday´s much stronger-than-expected US jobs report for October. The FTSE 100 was trading up by 0.33% to 6,37
Read moreLondon pre-open: Markets brush off weak Chinese trade data
9th Nov 2015 07:58
(ShareCast News) - Investors were set to push the Footsie higher despite the release of weaker than expected foreign trade numbers out of China over the weekend and a strong US jobs report for October, last Friday, that led markets to re-price the likelihood of a Fed hike next month. The top flight
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