FTSE 100 movers: GKN rises after strong results and broker comment
26th Feb 2013 15:18
GKN got a boost after Jefferies said that company has a sound platform for solid growth after the engineering group's pre-tax profit came in ahead of its predictions. Chemicals group Croda was also a bright spot after saying that it has made an encouraging start to the new year. The company said t
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 sinks on Italian political impasse
26th Feb 2013 11:37
The Footsie lost over one per cent on Tuesday morning in the aftermath of the Italian national elections, as financial markets reacted to the political uncertainty unravelling in the Eurozone's third-largest economy. The centre-left party led by Pier Luigi Bersani appears to have won the lower hous
Read moreBroker tips: RBS, GKN, Whitbread
26th Feb 2013 10:57
Nomura has reiterated its 'reduce' rating and 300p target price for UK lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) ahead of the bank's full-year results later this week. "We believe the group still faces material uncertainties with respect to deleveraging, asset quality and the future shape of operations,
Read moreBroker snap: RBS faces material uncertainties, says Nomura
26th Feb 2013 10:55
Nomura has reiterated its 'reduce' rating and 300p target price for UK lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) ahead of the bank's full-year results later this week. The broker expects to see core profits of £6.1bn for 2012 when the company reports on February 28th, falling to £5.2bn if excluding manda
Read moreLondon open: Political uncertainty in Italy hammers stocks
26th Feb 2013 08:25
Election results in Italy prompted in a sell-off across European stock markets on Tuesday morning after the country was thrown into a political deadlock. The centre-left party led by Pier Luigi Bersani appears to have won the lower house by a narrow margin though the there was an inconclusive vote
Read moreLondon close: Markets volatile after mixed news on Italian election
25th Feb 2013 17:11
The FTSE 100 saw a volatile end to the trading session on Monday as a number of conflicting news reports emerged from the Italian exit polls. Milan's FTSE MIB index gained as much as 4.0% earlier in the day after it was rumoured that centre-left Pier Luigi Bersani could win a majority in both the l
Read moreSector movers: RBS and Barclays lead banks higher
25th Feb 2013 15:43
Cyclical sectors were performing well on Monday afternoon as stimulus hopes in the US and Japan increased risk appetite. Banks were among the highest risers with strong gains for RBS, Barclays and Standard Chartered helped the sector higher. Domestic lender Royal Bank of Scotland was up 2.9% at 35
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks lead the race
25th Feb 2013 14:36
Royal Bank of Scotland topped the FTSE 100 on Monday following reports it was poised to announce a plan to float part of its US business. It comes as the state-backed lender looks for ways to raise capital and restructure ahead of planned reprivatisation. Barclays followed closely behind as minorit
Read moreLondon midday: Banks lift markets higher despite UK downgrade
25th Feb 2013 11:47
The FTSE 100 was making decent gains on Monday morning in spite of Moody's stripping the UK of its prized 'AAA' credit rating, as sentiment was lifted by central-bank stimulus speculation in the US and Japan. Over the last few days, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke showed his commitment to the
Read moreRBS may float part of US retail arm Citizens
25th Feb 2013 11:31
Royal Bank of Scotland may soon announce a plan to float part of its US retail arm in the next two years as a way to raise liquidity and prepare for the possibility of spinning off the entire group. According to Financial Times, the bank will announce a plan to float between 15% and 25% of Citize
Read moreLondon open: Stocks gains as market shrugs off UK downgrade
25th Feb 2013 08:19
Markets managed to shrug off the UK ratings downgrade and some disappointing economic data from China on Monday morning, as stocks advanced on the back of optimism surrounding central-bank stimulus. "Signs from the US and Japan indicate they will continue with their monetary policy for some time ye
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: UK rating, RBS, Centrica...
25th Feb 2013 06:54
Britain will take 'several years' to get back its AAA credit rating, Kenneth Clarke warned yesterday as the Tory Right called on George Osborne to change direction. Backbenchers said that the Chancellor should cut spending further, and reduce taxes and fuel duty in the wake of the ratings agency Moo
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: RBS, BP, Vodafone
24th Feb 2013 13:24
The US government and Gulf Coast states are reportedly considering offering BP a deal under which the company will pay 16bn dollars to settle civil suits stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The deal would cover the company's potential penalties under the Clean Water Act and payments u
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain as BoE divided on QE
20th Feb 2013 16:40
Gains were trimmed by the close of trade on Wednesday as heavy falls in the insurance and mining sectors partially offset earlier optimism about further stimulus from the Bank of England (BoE). RSA Insurance was leading the fallers on the FTSE 100 after a surprise cut to its dividend, while preciou
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Feb 2013 07:04
Amara Mining: Goldman Sachs moves target price from 90p to 55p downgrading to neutral. Aureus Mining: Goldman Sachs revises target price from 65p to 55p retaining a neutral rating. Avocet Mining: Goldman Sachs cuts target price from 55p to 30p and upgrades from sell to neutral. AZ Electronic Mate
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