Friday tips round up: Weir Group, Pennon
25th Nov 2011 07:51
The Times's Tempus column looks at Weir Group, which has taken a significant bet on the gas extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing with its $675mn takeover of Texas firm Seaboard. The purchase puts Weir in the business of building the type of well heads used in "fracking" - a process which
Read moreLondon close: Retreat moves into ninth day
24th Nov 2011 17:12
After once again showing signs in the morning session of bringing the losing streak to an end, Footsie once again relapsed in the afternoon session, as investors took fright at German Chancellor Angela Merkel once again banging on about what a bad idea it would be to have common interest rates for a
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks seeking direction
24th Nov 2011 12:02
As was the case yesterday morning (before it all went downhill in the afternoon session), equities have endured a dull session in London. Footsie spent much of the morning in positive territory, largely on the strength of good showings by banks and miners. Gains might have been a bit more impress
Read moreDigital Look broker talk
24th Nov 2011 10:02
Dixons Retail: "There was an improved sales and gross margin performance in Q2, with encouraging progress on several key financial metrics including net debt, working capital and inventory. These should go some way to allaying fears on the group's financial position, in our view" [Investec]. Pennon
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
24th Nov 2011 09:48
Weir: Peel Hunt upgrades from hold to buy, target cut from 2,100p to 2,000p. Weir: Investec maintains buy rating and 2,250p target. Compass: Panmure Gordon raises target from 643p to 658p, buy rating unchanged. Smith & Nephew: Panmure Gordon cuts target from 750p to 640p, buy rating kept. Dixons
Read moreLondon open: Thomas Cook, Dixons jump higher
24th Nov 2011 08:34
The Footsie was trading broadly flat early on, swinging between small gains and losses in the opening minutes. Weighing on sentiment was a poll by Reuters/Ipsos MORI which showed that the majority of Britons (58%) believe the economy will get worse over the next year. That is the highest figure sin
Read moreProfits and dividend up at Pennon
24th Nov 2011 07:29
Water group Pennon reported a jump in profits despite business customers cutting back on water usage due to the tight economic climate. Profit before tax across the group was up 11.6% to £107.4m in the six months to the end of September. South West Water saw profits rise 8.5% to £76.2m, while prof
Read moreLondon pre-open: Moderate gains expected
24th Nov 2011 07:20
With Asian indices mixed this morning, and Wall Street closed today for Thanksgiving, the Footsie is expected to open just slightly higher. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 18 points from yesterday's close of 5,140. Likely to be weighing on market sentiment is a report in Bloomberg wh
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Aegis, Endace, SSE
2nd Nov 2011 06:28
The Independent looks at the media marketing agency Aegis which upped its guidance on profits for 2011 yesterday. Although the shares fell slightly yesterday revenue growth grew 11.2% and the global reach of the company, with established operations in Brazil and China suggest it can weather Europe'
Read moreUPDATE: Monday broker round-up
10th Oct 2011 09:08
Antofagasta: Morgan Stanley downgrades to 'underweight' from 'equalweight'. Capita: Galvan Research and Trading gives buy rating and 760p target. Premier Oil: HSBC upgrades to 'overweight' from 'equalweight'. GKN: Credit Suisse cuts target to 205p from 243p. IMI: Credit Suisse cuts target to 67
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Admiral, Melrose, Pennon...
25th Aug 2011 06:41
Admiral's shares suffered yesterday, says the Investment Column at the Independent. The company reported high headline numbers: first-half profits of £16.6m were 27 per cent ahead of the same period last year, while turnover rose by 53 per cent to £1.1bn. But some analysts expected better for the sh
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 rallies to close with gains
16th Aug 2011 16:50
The FTSE 100 found strength as the day progressed, helped by some economic data from the US, and managed to finish with gains. Sentiment had been depressed earlier on by figures on this side of the pond. The Eurozone economy grew by a paltry 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous thr
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall back amid economic worries
16th Aug 2011 12:08
Stocks are firmly in the red as investors digest some sobering economic data both at home and abroad. The Eurozone economy grew by a paltry 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous three month period amid a sharp slowdown in growth in the trading bloc's economic powerhouse Germany. He
Read moreLondon open: Miners, engineers lead fallers
16th Aug 2011 08:33
Just four stocks were making gains in early trading as London's blue chip index slipped 1% lower. The Footsie gave up its gains made on Monday and was trading below the 5,300 mark as miners and engineers provided a drag. Randgold Resources was among the few risers, tracking the price of gold higher
Read morePennon pressing on with energy from waste project
16th Aug 2011 07:56
Water group Pennon said trading has been in line with management expectations since March 31. Its South West Water division has "a solid platform in place for continued success during the current regulatory period (K5, 2010 - 2015)," having successfully completed the K4 regulatory contract, the com
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