Sector movers: Lloyds leads banks lower after government share sale
26th Mar 2014 15:16
UK banking stocks were among the worst performers in London on Wednesday with state-backed lender Lloyds leading the decline after the government sold another tranche of its stake. The agency that oversees the taxpayers' stake in the bank, UK Financial Investments, reduced the Treasury's sharehold
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, RBS, Carnival...
26th Mar 2014 12:25
Investec has reiterated its 'buy' recommendation on Lloyds after the government sold a further tranche of shares in the state-backed lender on Wednesday. The broker, which kept an 85p target price for the shares, said that Lloyds offers "reasonable upside for a relatively low-risk stock". Analyst I
Read moreLondon midday: Insurance stocks push markets higher, but banks fall
26th Mar 2014 11:42
- FTSE 100 at highest since March 11th - Insurers provide a lift, Standard Life and Phoenix in focus - Lloyds drops after government sale, RBS downgraded - ECB, PBoC stimulus hopes and US data drive gains techMARK 2,787.86 +0.51% FTSE 100 6,630.79 +0.39% FTSE 250 16,273.83 +0.75% UK stocks were at
Read moreNumis downgrades RBS due to 'stretched' valuation
26th Mar 2014 11:01
Numis Securities has lowered its rating for Royal Bank of Scotland from 'add' to 'hold' and slashed its target price from 374p to 300p. Analyst Mike Trippitt said that while potential capital generation should provide some support to the shares, the stock's valuation "looks stretched". Neverthele
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
26th Mar 2014 08:51
Aberdeen Asset Management: Citi reduces target price from 455p to 390p and stays with its neutral rating. Acta: Cantor Fitzgerald places both its target price (prev.: 16p) and its buy recommendation under review. Alliance Pharma: Numis shifts target price from 38p to 39p upgrading to add. APR Ene
Read moreLondon open: Stocks at two-week high, Standard Life jumps
26th Mar 2014 08:19
- FTSE 100 set for best close since March 12th - Markets track gains on US, Asian indices - Standard Life, Phoenix agree on Ignis deal - Lloyds drops after government sale techMARK 2,793.31 +0.70% FTSE 100 6,620.06 +0.23% FTSE 250 16,264.06 +0.69% UK stocks edged higher on Wednesday morning with m
Read moreRBS responds to reports of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial bid
25th Mar 2014 09:20
Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) shares rose following reports that Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group may bid for the lender's US retail banking division. The two banks met recently to negotiate a possible deal for RBS Citizens Financial Group, according to The Wall Street Journal which cited s
Read moreRBS in talks to sell RBS Citizens to Sumitomo Mitsui, WSJ says
24th Mar 2014 18:06
The Royal Bank of Scotland is engaged in talks to sell its US retail banking branch, RBS Citizens, to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal which cited people familiar with the situation. AB
Read moreLondon close: Russia, China concerns keep FTSE firmly in red
24th Mar 2014 16:59
- Ukraine, China weigh heavily on market - Eurozone PMI falls unexpectedly - US manufacturing comes in below expectations techMARK 2,753.98 -1.32% FTSE 100 6,520.39 -0.56% FTSE 250 16,019.41 -0.87% Stocks finished firmly lower today as concerns over mounting geopolitical tensions in western Europe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds climbs on rating upgrade
24th Mar 2014 15:48
Investec has upgraded its rating for Lloyds Banking Group from 'hold' to 'buy', telling investors that "it is safe to go back in the water", prompting a strong rise in the share price. "After a 10% 10-week pull-back, we again see reasonable value for a low-risk stock. Upgrade to 'buy'," the broker
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners jump after recent declines
21st Mar 2014 14:55
Mining stocks were performing well throughout today's session as bargain hunters stepped in following recent weakness in the sector. At Thursday's close, the FTSE 350 mining sector had lost more than 11 per cent over the last four weeks. Anglo American, Antofagasta, and precious metals producer Fres
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks set for weekly gain as miners rise
21st Mar 2014 11:45
- Miners recover after recent slump - Obama imposes more sanctions on Russia - Markets await speeches from Fed officials - Burberry, RBS, Hikma hit by broker downgrades techMARK 2,807.91 +0.27% FTSE 100 6,564.71 +0.34% FTSE 250 16,228.56 +0.07% UK equities were trading higher on Friday with the FT
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
21st Mar 2014 09:36
Anglo American: Nomura reduces target price from 1550p to 1475p and retains a neutral rating. Antofagasta: Nomura cuts target price from 800p to 720p and stays with its reduce rating. Canaccord Genuity reduces target price from 1030p to 880p, while its buy recommendation is kept. ASOS: UBS reduces
Read moreLondon open: Mining stocks provide a lift early on
21st Mar 2014 08:27
- Miners recover after recent slump - Obama imposes more sanctions on Russia - Markets await speeches from Fed officials techMARK 2,803.23 +0.11% FTSE 100 6,565.89 +0.36% FTSE 250 16,219.13 +0.01% UK equities opened slightly higher on Friday as decent gains in the mining sector lifted the resource
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: SSE rises on rating upgrade
20th Mar 2014 15:02
Electricity provider SSE was in the top spot after receiving a ratings upgrade from Morgan Stanley. Next was on the up after the High Street retailer reported annual profit that met the top end of its guidance, driven by growth in online sales. The company achieved an 11.8% rise in pre-tax profit
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