Sector movers: Sainsbury drags grocers lower amid gloomy Kantar data
7th May 2014 14:55
A mixed reaction to better-than-expected results from J Sainsbury and gloomy industry data pushed grocery stocks lower on Wednesday. Underlying profit before tax at Sainsbury rose 5.3% to £798m in the 52 weeks to March 15th, ahead of the consensus forecast of £782m, on underlying group sales includ
Read moreGuinness Peat Group appoints new director
6th May 2014 13:29
Online supermarket Ocado Group announced Non-Executive Director Ruth Anderson has been appointed as a director at financial services firm Guinness Peat Group. Anderson is currently Chairman of Ocado's remuneration committee and a director at Guinness peat's subsidiary Coats. Prior to her role at th
Read moreBroker tips: Diageo, Ocado, Devro
28th Apr 2014 11:53
Credit Suisse has downgraded its rating for Diageo from 'outperform' to 'neutral', saying that challenges are mounting at the drinks group. The bank has lowered its target price for the stock from 2,200p to 1,950p after cutting its earnings per share estimates for next year by 8% to 101p on the bac
Read moreOcado under pressure from grocery price war, says Shore Capital
28th Apr 2014 10:25
Shore Capital has reiterated its 'sell' recommendation for on-line grocery group Ocado, saying that margins are facing negative pressure from the current price competition amongst UK food retailers. The comments come after recent developments at retail giant Tesco, which said that it intends to inv
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Premier Oil, Bookmakers, Friends Life
27th Apr 2014 10:08
Premier Oil has rejected two takeover approaches from Ophir Energy, the Sunday Times reported. The most recent proposal by Ophir was an all-share deal that was unanimously rejected by Premier's board two weeks ago. The companies are likely to inform the market about the talks on April 28th following
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Evraz, Ocado, Centamin, Debenhams
17th Apr 2014 14:38
Russian steelmaker Evraz rebounded on Thursday following a slump a day earlier when it reported an eight per cent fall in crude steel production for the first quarter. Online grocer Ocado Group gained ahead of the Easter weekend as shoppers stocked up on food for the holiday. Mining giant Centami
Read moreSector movers: Tesco gives grocery sector a lift after results
16th Apr 2014 15:14
Retailers were on shopping lists today, helped by a strong performance from sector heavyweight Tesco. Shares in Tesco were making gains despite the company reporting that profits fell for the first time in 20 years, as the decline was not as bad as analysts had predicted. A 6.7% fall in group trad
Read moreLondon midday: Sports Direct, Burberry and Tesco lead markets higher
16th Apr 2014 11:30
- Sports Direct gains as momentum stocks recovery - Tesco, Burberry and Persimmon impress with results - UK unemployment declines, China data mixed - Ukraine crisis escalates techMARK 2,642.64 +0.45% FTSE 100 6,562.09 +0.31% FTSE 250 15,694.83 +0.67% A recovery by so-called 'momentum' stocks and a
Read moreLondon open: Stocks bounce off three-week low as Tesco gains
16th Apr 2014 08:42
- Tesco, Hargreaves, Burberry and Persimmon rise after updates - Momentum shares bounce back after recent falls - Chinese data mixed, growth slows - Global economic data in focus today techMARK 2,648.70 +0.68% FTSE 100 6,577.56 +0.55% FTSE 250 15,701.67 +0.71% UK stocks rose strongly on Wednesday
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Debenhams rises after maintaining divi
15th Apr 2014 14:49
High Street department store Debenhams rose after maintaining its interim dividend at 1p per share despite profits falling by a quarter in the first half. The profit decline, however, was in line with company guidance. Al Noor Hospitals headed higher after Jefferies increased its target price from
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
15th Apr 2014 08:08
APR Energy: Goldman Sachs reduces target price from 1165p to 1039p, while upgrading to buy. Aureus Mining: FinnCap places its target price (prev.: 175p) under review and keeps its buy recommendation . Al Noor Hospitals: Jefferies increases target price from 1065p to 1155p and maintains a buy recom
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Miners track metal prices higher
14th Apr 2014 15:41
Mining groups Evraz, Lonmin and Polymetal International all tracked metal prices higher. Jardine Lloyd Thompson also climbed after Numis raised its target price to 1,190p, upgrading the stock from 'hold' to 'buy'. Ocado shares suffered significant declines, which Bloomberg was linking to the wid
Read moreLondon midday: Sell-off continues on Ukraine crisis, but defensives gain
14th Apr 2014 11:40
- Ukraine calls on pro-Russian radicals to lay down arms - Defensive stocks, consumer staples rise as risk appetite falls - Glencore Xstrata sells Las Bambas for 5.85bn dollars techMARK 2,627.27 -1.60% FTSE 100 6,540.54 -0.32% FTSE 250 15,638.88 -1.63% UK markets picked up where they left off on M
Read moreLondon midday: Tech and airline stocks drag UK markets lower
11th Apr 2014 11:30
- Tech, internet stocks weigh on markets - Nasdaq sees sharpest fall since late 2011 - JPMorgan, Wells Fargo in focus this afternoon - Airlines sold off after Heathrow traffic stats techMARK 2,668.68 -1.87% FTSE 100 6,563.60 -1.18% FTSE 250 15,888.60 -1.61% UK stocks fell over one per cent on Frid
Read moreBroker tips: UK grocers, Whitbread, Synthomer...
8th Apr 2014 12:23
The outlook for profits across the UK grocery sector is 'highly constrained', according to Shore Capital, which has raised concerns about rising pricing contagion. The broker retained its 'sell' ratings for supermarket rivals Tesco and WM Morrison and online grocer Ocado. "We have harboured growing
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