Confident Persimmon hikes divi by a third
23rd Aug 2011 07:24
Persimmon, the house builder, saw underlying profits surge in the first half of 2011 on the back of gross margin gains and a more efficient capital structure. Underlying profit before tax rose 52% to £59.7m in the first half of 2011 from £39.4m last year. Pre-tax profits after goodwill impairment a
Read moreTuesday preview: Persimmon, G4S
22nd Aug 2011 15:06
House builder Persimmon was trading close to its 52-week high of 502.5p at the beginning of July, but has plummeted since then to around 380p, as it got caught up in the global sell-off of equities. Tuesday's interim results are expected to show an improvement in both profitability and net margin, w
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Reckitt Benckiser, Electrocomponents, Persimmon
26th Jul 2011 06:28
Analysts had two concerns over the halfway figures from Reckitt Benckiser ? the tough market for personal care products in Europe and the slow adoption of its film version of the heroin substitute Suboxone. European sales were down 1% on a like-for-like basis in the first half and down 2% in the sec
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Persimmon, Marshalls, Zotefoams
6th Jul 2011 06:38
Persimmon, the country's largest housebuilder, built 4,439 homes in the first half, down 5% on the year, which were sold at an average of £162,000. This price represented a 4% decline because of a higher mix of smaller houses. Yet margins edged up to 9% from 8%. The main bugbear for investors is the
Read moreLondon close: Stocks edge higher
5th Jul 2011 16:34
The top share index managed to inch further beyond the 6,000 point mark it has crossed so many times this year, though it was a sluggish day's trading. In company news, Tullow Oil gushed ahead after it enjoyed record revenues in the first half of the year while achieving a 79% exploration and appr
Read moreBroker tips: Tullow Oil, Capital Shopping, Persimmon
5th Jul 2011 13:54
The first half update from oil firm Tullow was slightly negative, in finnCap's view, and the broker continues to see better options elsewhere in the sector. Production and revenues were both lower than expected, finnCap asserts, while underlying production guidance for the full year was cut, althou
Read moreBroker snap: Persimmon has ground to make up
5th Jul 2011 13:40
The share price reaction to Persimmon's trading update was negative but Northland Capital Partners is keeping the faith, saying the numbers show that the house builder's recovery show remains on the road. "Forward sales are moving ahead of last year and with 70 new higher margin sites opened in H1
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks stay above 6,000
5th Jul 2011 12:21
Stocks have crept further beyond the 6,000 point mark as the post-Greek pro-austerity measures vote rally continues. In company news, most interest is to be found in the mid-cap index. N Brown, the FTSE-250 online and catalogue retail firm is wanted after total group revenue increased 5.1% in the 1
Read moreLondon open: Calm continues after rally
5th Jul 2011 08:27
London's leading share index remains becalmed having rallied strongly last week following the Greek parliament's vote in favour of austerity measures. In company news, most interest is to be found in the mid-cap index. N Brown, the FTSE-250 online and catalogue retail firm is wanted after total gro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set to drift back
5th Jul 2011 07:36
London's blue-chips are set to open modestly lower, with the Footsie predicted to open around 10 points lower, which would, at least, mean it remains above the 6,000 level, having closed at 6,108 last night. Tullow Oil enjoyed record revenues in the first half of the year while achieving a 79% expl
Read morePersimmon hopes for mortgage lending improvement
5th Jul 2011 07:21
Mortgage lending conditions must improve before there can be any meaningful increase in industry output, the housebuilder Persimmon said as it reported lower sales and house prices this year. The company said it had seen improved margins and good levels of free cash flow, while managing to secure s
Read moreTuesday preview: Persimmon, Marshalls
4th Jul 2011 18:14
House builder Persimmon is expected to "echo the sentiments issued by Taylor Wimpey last week, and confirm that whilst the market remains challenging, conditions since the start of the year have been broadly stable," according to Panmure Gordon. Paving slab firm Marshalls has been sloping steadily
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish higher despite retreat
24th Jun 2011 16:47
Stocks gave up most of their early gains as economic worries resurfaced, but the top share index still closed in positive territory. Some observers attribute this resilience to comments from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that may be pointing towards a quicker end than previously expected to tightening
Read moreLondon midday: Gains fade as Bank warns on risks
24th Jun 2011 12:01
Shares are still going well after a strong start but have given up some of their earlier gains as nerves linger over the eurozone situation. With Greece and the European Union settled on the contents of the austerity package to be put before the Greek parliament next week, hopes have risen that th
Read moreLondon open: Sharp gains for Footsie as Greek fears ease
24th Jun 2011 08:42
The Footsie registered sharp gains in early trading, after last night's reports from Greece buoyed sentiment in London. The FTSE 100 opened up 68 higher at 5,742 on Friday morning. With Greece and the European Union settled on the contents of the austerity package to be put before the Greek parliam
Read more