London pre-open: Retailers in focus
14th Apr 2011 07:07
Retailers are likely to be in focus in the early going with both Debenhams and WH Smith bringing out results that were in line with expectations but which provided further evidence of tough times on the UK high street. Stocks are expected to soften at the outset with the FTSE 100 expected to open
Read moreAsia a bright spot for gloomy PZ Cussons
14th Apr 2011 07:06
More evidence of the threadbare state of the UK consumer's wallet came from consumer goods outfit PZ Cussons, which said trading conditions in the UK remain challenging. Though the group as a whole has been trading broadly in line with management expectations in 2011, despite margin pressures from
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Babcock, Hornby, Playtech...
26th Jan 2011 06:48
Babcock bought rival VT last year and said investors would be looking at how well it performed. So far, it seems the integration is on track, with management confident of hitting a run-rate of £11m by the end of March. Babcock also exceeded expectations on paying down debt following the VT acquisi
Read moreLondon close: GDP contraction casts a shadow
25th Jan 2011 16:38
The leading share index finished in the red on a day that was dominated by grim figures showing an unexpected contraction in the UK economy in the fourth quarter of 2010. Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.5% between October and December according to figures released by the Office for Nat
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower after shock GDP contraction
25th Jan 2011 12:18
Shares took a dive after figures showed a shock contraction in GDP, but have recovered slightly. Gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.5% between October and December according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), having grown by 0.7%. The latest figures are stil
Read moreBroker snap: PZ Cussons a 'hold'
25th Jan 2011 12:15
Panmure Gordon notes that PZ Cussons' interim results were broadly in line with forecasts, but with the stock trading close to its target price, the broker retains its 'hold' rating on the consumer products group. A 3.4% rise in pre-tax profit to £46.2m was slightly ahead of the broker's £45.7m est
Read moreLondon open: Miners make for dull start
25th Jan 2011 09:03
Miners have pulled Footsie lower in early dealing despite the 100-point plus surge on Wall Street overnight. Kazakhmys and Randgold are the worst affected, but the whole sector has run into a bout of profit taking. BSkyB is higher even though the bid from NewsCorp seems no nearer a conclusion. Cu
Read morePZ Cussons flags 'robust' half
25th Jan 2011 07:33
PZ Cussons, famous for its Imperial Leather soap, has delivered interim profits slightly ahead of forecasts and thinks the full-year will meet expectations despite soaring raw material costs. Profit before tax and exceptional items for the six months ended 30 November rose 3.4% to £46.2m - Panmure
Read moreTuesday preview: PZ Cussons, Babcock, Playtech, GDP
24th Jan 2011 16:37
Consumer products group PZ Cussons, best known for its Imperial Leather brand of soap, will be going up against a tough set of comparatives when it issues interim results on Tuesday. Panmure Gordon is expecting the firm to deliver "relatively muted growth" of around 3% in earnings per share (EPS).
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 shrugs off weather woes
20th Dec 2010 16:44
Shares held onto gains to close in positive territory despite the bad weather hitting travel and retail stocks. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers fell. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares stay buoyant despite weather hit
20th Dec 2010 15:25
Footsie is still hovering around 5,900 points following a mixed start on Wall Street. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers have trimmed losses. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks & Spencer,
Read moreBroker tips: PZ Cussons, Abcam, Kirkland Lake Gold
20th Dec 2010 13:39
Panmure Gordon doesn't think PZ Cussons' plans to expand its presence in food and nutrition in Nigeria will have any short-term impact on forecasts, but is a "potentially significant" growth platform for the medium term. The company best known in Britain as a soap-maker is establishing a food ingr
Read moreBroker snap: Hold PZ Cussons after Nigeria deal
20th Dec 2010 13:02
Panmure Gordon doesn't think PZ Cussons' plans to expand its presence in food and nutrition in Nigeria will have any short-term impact on forecasts, but is a "potentially significant" growth platform for the medium term. The company best known in Britain as a soap-maker is establishing a food ingre
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie tops 5,900
20th Dec 2010 12:00
Things turned around dramatically in the hour before lunch as the session came alive after a rather dull start, nudging a 2½-year high by midday. Defensive issues are still going well. National Grid, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas owner Centrica are expected to benefit from the cold sn
Read moreLondon open: Shares edge higher
20th Dec 2010 08:28
Shares are little changed in early dealings, perhaps a taste of things to come this week as news dries up heading into the Christmas break. British Airways, which saw many flights grounded in Britain over the weekend and is still facing severe disruption, is a notable faller. Rumours that Ladbroke
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