Sector movers: Insurers prop up the Footsie
8th Oct 2014 17:05
The insurance sector led the way higher on Wednesday, led by gains in Prudential and Legal & General. Insurers' share prices got a boost from a positive research note on the global insurance sector from Citi analysts. The broker estimates that free-cash-flow yields for global insurers in 2015 are i
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: RBS, Scottish independence, Prudential
14th Sep 2014 13:04
Royal Bank of Scotland could have a pension funding gap of up to 5.6bn pounds if Scotland votes to leave the UK, the Sunday Times reported. Other companies such as Lloyds Banking Group and BP would also be affected by a hole of about £100bn in UK corporate retirement plans, according to Credit Suiss
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks retreat on rate-hike uncertainty
20th Aug 2014 12:00
- MPC split on rate decision for first time since 2011 - FOMC minutes due out after the close - Ex-dividend stocks, Balfour Beatty weigh on market - Beverage shares hit by Carlsberg results techMARK 2,798.96 -0.07% FTSE 100 6,752.88 -0.39% FTSE 250 15,794.83 -0.63% UK equities retreated from a thr
Read moreLondon open: Stocks snap five-day win streak ahead of central bank minutes
20th Aug 2014 09:00
- MPC, FOMC minutes in focus - FTSE 100 pulls back from three-week high - Balfour drops after rejecting Carillion bid - Glencore announces $1bn buyback techMARK 2,802.00 +0.04% FTSE 100 6,769.90 -0.14% FTSE 250 15,859.07 -0.23% UK stocks snapped a five-day winning streak on Wednesday ahead of the
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
18th Aug 2014 09:54
Admiral Group: Credit Suisse reduces target price from 1425p to 1350p and stays with its neutral rating. Ophir Energy: RBC Capital reduces target price from 400p to 240p, while its neutral rating remains unchanged. Petra Diamonds: Westhouse Securities ups target price from 200p to 230p upgrading f
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Mark Carney, Carillion-Balfour, Tesco
17th Aug 2014 15:49
The UK economy is more than halfway to full recovery, the Governor of the Bank of England (BoE) told the Sunday Times. Mark Carney, in an interview marking the first anniversary of his forward guidance policy, told the paper economic expansion was proceeding and that momentum was more assured. "Wher
Read moreSector movers: Admiral drags non-life insurers lower on subdued premiums
13th Aug 2014 15:31
Poorly-received first-half numbers from Admiral were dragging the non-line insurance sector lower on Wednesday, while life insurers were given a boost by Prudential. Admiral's shares were down 6% at 1,365p in afternoon trade after the car insurance group said that turnover in the first half was dow
Read moreLondon close: Company results please, but analysts cautious
12th Aug 2014 16:57
- Markets trim losses to finish almost flat - Geopolitics in focus with aid on its way to Ukraine - German ZEW survey disappoints - Prudential, Just Eat, Ladbrokes and Serco rise after results techMARK 2,728.24 +0.03% FTSE 100 6,632.42 -0.01% FTSE 250 15,465.81 +0.03% UK stocks had practically cla
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Prudential impresses with H1 profits, oil stocks fall
12th Aug 2014 14:49
Insurer Prudential impressed the market on Tuesday after the insurer's US and Asia businesses helped to boost group operating profits by a better-than-expected 17% to £1.52bn in the first half, despite a drop in UK annuity sales sparked by government pension changes. Oil stocks such as Shell, BP a
Read moreShore Capital says 'buy' Prudential despite political obstacles
12th Aug 2014 14:27
Shore Capital has advised investors to pile into Prudential, saying it is well-placed despite currency, regulatory and political headwinds. Prudential said on Tuesday that its businesses in Asia and the US helped the insurer to boost first-half operating profits by 17% to £1.52bn, although it ruled
Read moreBroker tips: Hargreaves Lansdown, Prudential, African Barrick Gold, Ladbrokes
12th Aug 2014 12:16
Shares in financial services group Hargreaves Lansdown were under pressure on Tuesday after UBS initiated coverage of the stock with a 'sell' rating, saying that the "risk-reward [is] significantly skewed to the downside". The bank set a 850p target price for the stock, which implies downside from
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase losses to trade flat amid geopolitical developments
12th Aug 2014 12:10
- Markets trim losses to finish flat - Geopolitics in focus with aid on its way to Ukraine - German ZEW survey disappoints - Prudential, Just Eat, Ladbrokes and Serco rise after results techMARK 2,726.95 -0.02% FTSE 100 6,630.32 -0.04% FTSE 250 15,498.56 +0.24% UK stocks had clawed back losses and
Read morePrudential is an "attractive" investment, says The Share Centre
12th Aug 2014 11:06
The Share Centre has given Prudential a 'buy' rating, saying that the insurer is "attractive for investors" after another set of strong results on Tuesday. The company's US and Asia businesses helped the group to boost first-half operating profits by 17% to £1.52bn despite a drop in UK annuity sale
Read morePrudential rules out big buys in Asia as H1 profits rise - UPDATE
12th Aug 2014 09:36
Prudential ruled out big acquisitions in Asia as its businesses in the region and the US helped the insurer to boost first-half operating profits by 17% to £1.52bn. Chief executive Tidjane Thiam said the group would grow in Asia by increasing its own business internally, but would not be making maj
Read moreSunday share tips: Bellway, Standard Chartered, Vertu
10th Aug 2014 19:38
Buy shares of Bellway, whose valuation looks cheap, the Sunday Telegraph's Questor tipster advised. The housebuilder reported record trading on August 8th but the shares have fallen 6% this year on fears that rising interest rates could burst the UK's housing bubble. That leaves the shares trading a
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