London open: M&B leads the rise after offer rejection
13th Sep 2011 08:32
Reports that China is planning to provide support to the Eurozone helped UK stocks higher on Tuesday morning, following a late recovery on Wall Street last night. Wall Street's rally was prompted by reports that Italy's government is negotiating with the Chinese government in the hope that Beijing
Read moreLondon pre-open: London likes idea of Chinese cavalry
13th Sep 2011 07:30
After Wall Street's dramatic late recovery yesterday, London is expected to open firmer today, with City sources predicting the FTSE 100 will open up 75 points from yesterday's close of 5,130 on hopes that the Chinese government will ride to the rescue of the Eurozone. Wall Street's rally was promp
Read moreNorthgate on track as tough markets continue
13th Sep 2011 07:14
Commercial vehicle hire company Northgate said despite tough economic conditions hitting its UK and Spanish markets, trading between May and September has been in line with the company expectations. The Darlington based group said the restructuring of the UK business continues to progress in line
Read moreBroker tips: SuperGroup, Northgate, Thorntons
13th Jul 2011 12:56
While full-year results for trendy fashion retailer SuperGroup were broadly in line with forecasts, and many brokers have retained their buy ratings, analysts have noted their caution in regards to current trading and slowing growth. Current trading showed that for the first ten weeks of the curren
Read moreBroker snap: UBS upgrades Northgate to neutral
13th Jul 2011 12:23
UBS has upgraded commercial vehicle hire company Northgate from sell to neutral after increasing its earnings forecasts for the next three years. For the broker, the biggest surprise in Northgate's full-year results (released on 30 June) was the significant decline in its Spanish construction expos
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Greene King, Cairn, Hampson
1st Jul 2011 06:30
While Greene King's retail estate of 915 pubs remains the driver thanks to sizzling food sales, its brewing business and 2,400 tenanted pubs are also outpacing rivals. Greene King's skill at increasing sales while mitigating cost rises has kept the cash flowing, allowing it to lift the divdend for t
Read moreLondon close: Rally continues as Greek fears ease
30th Jun 2011 16:38
The rally continued Thursday, helping the top share index move back towards the 6,000 point mark it had been flitting around from the beginning of the year until the escalation of the Greek debt crisis. The Greek parliament's second vote on the proposed new austerity measures provided further chee
Read moreNorthgate profits soar despite revenue fall
30th Jun 2011 16:18
Business vehicle hire group Northgate was in the fast lane Thursday after posting a 47% rise in pre-tax profits in the year to 30 April. Pre-tax profit for the year totalled £53.8m, up from £36.5m the previous year, even as revenue fell to £715.5m from £749.6m. The company, which operates in Brit
Read moreLondon close: Stocks give up gains as Greece worries resurface
20th May 2011 16:49
Stocks gave up their early gains as continuing concerns over the eurozone debt situation - particularly over Greece - put a dampener on sentiment. The ratings agency Fitch cut its rating on the country's debt by three notches to B+, warning of the challenges the country faces in reviving its econom
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 gives up gains
20th May 2011 12:07
The FTSE 100 has run out of puff and is now flat despite good gains for BP. BP - more specifically last year's disastrous oil spill - is in focus again, but the oil giant's shares are higher after it said MOEX, part of the Japanese trading house Mitsui and the 10% owner of the Macondo oil well that
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 in another assault on 6,000
20th May 2011 08:30
Stocks have opened higher on a quiet day on the company news front, consolidating recent gains and moving closer to the psychologically important 6,000 point mark. BP - more specifically last year's disastrous oil spill - is in focus again, but the oil giant's shares are higher after it said MOEX,
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest progress expected
20th May 2011 07:49
Stocks are set to open modestly higher following a solid showing overnight on Wall Street. City traders expect the blue-chip index will open around 16 points firmer at 5,972. The legion of income investors holding Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) shares were kept happy as the utility company bump
Read moreNorthgate names new finance director
20th May 2011 07:03
Northgate, the light commercial vehicle hire specialist, has promoted Chris Muir, its UK finance director, to the position of group finance director. "Chris has been selected following an extensive search process involving internal and external candidates," said Bob Contreras, Northgate's chief ex
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: DS Smith lifted higher after update
20th Apr 2011 13:19
Recycled packaging group DS Smith is the top of the bunch today after saying that the year ending 30 April is progressing 'in line' with good improvements in return on sales and "significant" earnings growth, as the group has been able to tackle rising input costs. Home products retailer Home Reta
Read moreNorthgate refinancing adds £1m to interest costs
20th Apr 2011 08:29
The finance director at light commercial vehicle hirer Northgate can sleep a bit easier now that the company has concluded a comprehensive debt refinancing. The group has secured a new eight year £100m term loan facility from the Prudential/M&G UK Companies Financing Fund. The loan is repayable in
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