Friday broker round-up UPDATE
1st Feb 2013 07:55
Afren: HSBC shifts target price from 190p to 200p, while reiterating an overweight rating. Antofagasta: Exane BNP reduces target price from 1500p to 1350p maintaining an outperform rating. Antrim Energy: Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 70p to 65p and reiterates a buy recommendation.
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Barclays, Chinese manufacturing, Jessops...
1st Feb 2013 06:55
UK authorities are probing an allegation that Barclays loaned Qatar money to invest in the bank as part of its cash call at the height of the financial crisis in 2008, which enabled the bank to avoid a UK government bailout. While the terms of Barclays' emergency fundraising have been under the scru
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: WPP rises on upgrade
30th Jan 2013 15:32
Leading the upside was advertising and media firm WPP after Jefferies upgraded its rating for the stock from hold to buy. The broker said that an analysis WPP's largest clients and their 2013 ad budget 'looks encouraging' and 'with expectations low, we see upside risk'. Meanwhile, heavyweight fina
Read moreLondon midday: Markets nervous ahead of US GDP, FOMC
30th Jan 2013 11:39
Strong gains for financial stocks were being outweighed by heavy losses in the resources sector in London, with markets trading mixed ahead of a busy day in the US later on. "European markets are looking exhausted, broadly flat as traders continue to refrain from building equity positions after the
Read moreLondon close: Markets at five-year high after US earnings
29th Jan 2013 16:49
After a subdued morning session, the FTSE 100 rallied in afternoon trade to finish at its highest level since early 2008, helped by upbeat earnings from corporate heavyweights in the US. The Dow Jones Industrial Average in New York was also trading at a five-year high today after pharmaceutical gro
Read moreSector movers: RBS and Lloyds hit by downgrade
29th Jan 2013 16:45
Banks were taking a hit on Tuesday after Espirito Santo downgraded Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, saying that the operating environment remains difficult in the face of a weak economic outlook. RBS and Lloyds are now two of the most expensive stocks under Espirito's coverage and the broker fore
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Anglo American a strong riser
29th Jan 2013 15:37
Diversified mining group Anglo American gained despite saying it will recognise a 4.0bn dollar impairment charge in its 2012 results after completing a detailed cost and schedule review of its Minas-Rio iron ore project in Brazil. The gain appeared to be part of a wider trend, with sector peers Ev
Read moreBroker snap: Espirito Santo downgrades RBS and Lloyds to 'sell'
29th Jan 2013 15:33
While shares in Royal Bank of Scotland were being hammered on Tuesday by concerns about alleged LIBOR manipulation in the US, the stock was being weighed down further by a downgrade by Espirito Santo. Lloyds was also taken down a peg by the broker in its review of the UK banking sector. Espirito
Read moreReport alleges US authorities pushing for criminal charges for RBS
29th Jan 2013 12:44
A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article has alleged that US authorities are pushing for a settlement of interest-rate rigging allegations with Royal Bank of Scotland Group citing unnamed individuals who it said had been "briefed on negotiations" as its sources. ShareCast contacted the RBS press office
Read moreLondon midday: Markets cautious ahead of US data, earnings
29th Jan 2013 11:45
UK stocks were slightly lower by Tuesday lunchtime with markets pausing for a breather after hitting multi-year highs, as investors awaited economic data and corporate earnings in the US. So far in January, the FTSE 100 has risen nearly 400 points, representing a 6.6% jump. Stocks initially start
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
29th Jan 2013 07:26
Anglo American: JP Morgan takes price target from 1630p to 1680p, while its underweight rating remains unchanged. ARM Holdings: Jefferies raises target price from 693p to 805p keeping a hold recommendation. Astra Zaneca: Barclays ups target price from 3100p to 3200p and retains an equal-weight rat
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 edges closer to 6,300 after recent strong run
28th Jan 2013 16:58
Improving newsflow in China and some better-than-expected economic data from the US helped the FTSE 100 come close to the 6,300 barrier on Monday, a level not seen since mid-2008. "What seems to be an unrelenting grind higher has continued today, with fund manager's chatter of the big rotation bein
Read moreSector movers: Banks rise as Goldman lifts targets
28th Jan 2013 15:27
Banking stocks were performing well on Monday afternoon after Goldman Sachs raised target prices across the sector. Goldman labelled HSBC as a 'conviction buy' and upped its target price from 820p to 860p. Even RBS was making gains despite the US bank downgrading the stock to 'sell'. Nevertheless,
Read moreHilco takes effective control of HMV
22nd Jan 2013 13:47
HMV was handed a lifeline after restructuring specialist Hilco took over effective control of the music and DVD retailer, according to reports Tuesday. Hilco purchased HMV's debt from the group's lenders, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland. It does not officially own the chain, but the transaction
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Meggitt lower on Boeing battery link
21st Jan 2013 16:07
Aerospace components engineer Meggitt was lower after being identified as the ultimate owner of a company which provided battery charger units for Boeing's now grounded Dreamliner air fleet. Pearson was also lower after weakness in the fourth-quarter selling season, which is key for higher educati
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