Friday broker round-up UPDATE
1st Aug 2014 10:33
AstraZeneca: Deutsche Bank ups target price from 3950p to 4000p staying with its hold recommendation. Avacta: Numis places both its target price and its buy recommendation under review. Barclays: Berenberg upgrades from sell to hold with a target price of 220p. Bodycote: UBS shifts target price f
Read moreLondon open: Miners, RBS drag UK stocks lower ahead of US data
1st Aug 2014 09:15
- Miners, RBS drag markets lower - US labour-market data in focus - UK stocks follow sell-off on Wall Street techMARK 2,747.58 -0.63% FTSE 100 6,688.51 -0.62% FTSE 250 15,393.35 -0.66% Falling share prices in the mining sector and a cool reaction to quarterly results from Royal Bank of Scotland en
Read moreRBS beats forecasts on lower impairment charges and PPI claims
1st Aug 2014 07:52
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has reported a 367% increase in operating profits for the first half of the year to reach £2.6bn on the back of a sharp reduction in impairment charges. Analysts at Numis had been expecting profits £2.3bn. Nevertheless, total income decreased by 5.9% to £9.9bn. O
Read moreFriday preview: RBS confirms first half results
31st Jul 2014 16:36
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will on Friday cap off a busy week of banking results with its first half earnings. A week ahead of the results, the company said it expects pre-tax profits to double to £2.65bn for the first six months, citing an improved economy and more confidence among consumers and
Read moreLondon close: FTSE in red as energy stocks weakened by sanctions
30th Jul 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 34.31 at 6,773.44 - Energy stocks hit by Russian sanctions - Eurozone confidence beats expectations - US GDP growth 4% techMARK 2,779.29 -0.11% FTSE 100 6,773.44 -0.50% FTSE 250 15,629.84 -0.36% London's blue chips ended Wednesday's session firmly in the red, with the sharpest
Read moreSector movers: Barclays results receive warm reaction, boost banks
30th Jul 2014 16:19
Well-received interim results from Barclays saw the London-listed banking sector rise to the top of the pile on Wednesday as the UK lender bettered analysts' forecasts. The lender reported an 8% fall in adjusted pre-tax profit in the second quarter to £1.656m, which it blamed on currency movements
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads after results
30th Jul 2014 16:04
Barclays was in the top spot after reporting a less-than-expected 12% fall in total income adjusted for insurance claims for the first half to £13.32bn, driven by reductions at its investment and African banking units. The consensus estimate had been for a drop to £13.23bn. Numis Securities reiter
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks flat ahead of US data, Fed decision
30th Jul 2014 11:42
- Corporate earnings receive mixed market reaction - Barclays, Travis Perkins and Astra rise - Antofagasta, ITV and Compass fall - US data, Fed decision in focus later on techMARK 2,783.73 +0.05% FTSE 100 6,803.99 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,675.20 -0.08% The FTSE 100 was trading broadly flat on Wednesday,
Read moreBank of England finalises bonus clawback, proposes new rules for individuals
30th Jul 2014 11:14
- BoE can claw back bonuses 7yrs after award - New proposals to hold individuals to account - 'Toughest banking rules in the world' The Bank of England (BoE) has finalised rules on bankers bonuses that could see the clawback of awards a maximum of seven years after they are awarded, with the new me
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip as investors digest earnings, Barclays rises
30th Jul 2014 08:26
- Barclays rises as investors digest wave of corporate earnings - Russian sanctions, Gaza and Argentina in focus - US economic data, Fed decision due out later on techMARK 2,785.48 +0.12% FTSE 100 6,797.66 -0.15% FTSE 250 15,671.08 -0.10% UK markets opened slightly lower on Wednesday as investors
Read moreBank of England to impose tough new bonus clawback rules
29th Jul 2014 15:31
The Bank of England (BoE) has decided to push ahead on its plans for super-tough bonus clawbacks on City bankers. The rules have been described as the toughest in the banking world but also "unreasonable" and even "unenforceable". A BoE consultation paper in March suggested bankers could be force
Read moreLondon close: Traders bide their time ahead of US jobs data
28th Jul 2014 17:26
- BskyB paces gains - Lloyds fined $370m by UK and US authorities - Aberdeen Asset Management sees slight drop in AuM techMARK 2,776.05 -0.83% FTSE 100 6,788.07 -0.05% FTSE 250 15,616.53 -0.48% The Footsie finished the session slightly lower as traders bided their time ahead of a raft of key data
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Reckitt Benckiser up on plan for drugs arm
28th Jul 2014 15:18
Household goods group Reckitt Benckiser climbed after it unveiled plans to hive off its drug arm into a separate UK-listed company. The rise came despite the group warning of a potentially tough second half. British Sky Broadcasting Group has made an equity investment of around $400,000 in Jaunt, a
Read moreBroker tips: African Barrick Gold, RBS, Reckitt Benckiser
28th Jul 2014 14:33
African Barrick Gold (ABG) delivered a brilliant performance during its second quarter and first half of the year, with accelerating free cash flow generation set to drive a re-rating of the shares, according to analysts at UBS. The broker thus highlights how all-in sustaining costs (AISC) dropped
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks edge higher
28th Jul 2014 12:28
- GSK break-up possibly on the cards - RyanAir reports doubling of first quarter profits - Aberdeen Asset Management sees slight drop in AuM techMARK 2,792.12 -0.26% FTSE 100 6,802.87 +0.17% FTSE 250 15,630.82 -0.39% The Footsie was largely unchanged come the midday point of the session ahead of a
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