Broker tips: M&S, Carnival, UK grocers
30th Mar 2015 11:39
Societe Generale has lifted its target price for Marks & Spencer from 492p to 524p but maintained a 'hold' rating on the high street retailer, saying it sees little upside from current levels. Ahead of trading update on Thursday, the broker said it no longer reckons M&S will produce a meaningful rec
Read moreGoldman downgrades Morrisons as headwinds persist for UK grocers
30th Mar 2015 09:10
Structural headwinds are persisting for UK grocers, with low inflation and falling calorie intake presenting a problem across the supermarket industry, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank downgraded its recommendation on Morrisons to 'neutral' on Monday, saying the stock has now reached its target
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: TUI soars on strong first half results, supermarkets lower
25th Mar 2015 13:54
TUI topped the risers after the group's first half trading update had surpassed last year's trading figures. The group's full year guidance of underlying operating profit growth of 10% to 15% was reiterated, based on the strength of current trading, as online bookings for hotel resorts and cruises s
Read moreLondon close: Energy stocks lift markets ahead of Budget, as investors await Fed
17th Mar 2015 16:32
After dipping into the red around midday, UK stocks rallied into the close with the FTSE 100 finishing 0.5% higher on the back of decent gains in the oil sector ahead of Wednesday's Budget statement. Rumours about potential tax breaks for North Sea oil and gas producers were providing energy stocks
Read moreLondon midday: Energy stocks rise but FTSE pares gains ahead of Fed meeting
17th Mar 2015 11:39
Stocks in the oil and mining sectors were performing well on Tuesday morning, though gains for the wider market were erased by lunchtime as investors awaited the start of a Federal Reserve policy meeting. Weaker-than-expected economic data from Germany was also dampening sentiment, as European marke
Read moreBroker tips: Sainsbury's, Lonmin, Wolseley
17th Mar 2015 11:13
Sainsbury's surpassed City expectations on Tuesday with a less-than-feared fall in like-for-like (LFL) sales in its fourth quarter, though that wasn't enough to change Shore Capital's 'sell' rating on the stock. The broker said: We continue at this stage to forecast falling [profits] over the next t
Read moreSainsbury's beats forecasts, but ShoreCap stays at 'sell'
17th Mar 2015 09:42
Sainsbury's surpassed City expectations on Tuesday with a less-than-feared fall in like-for-like (LFL) sales in its fourth quarter, though that wasn't enough to change Shore Capital's 'sell' rating on the stock. The grocer said LFL sales excluding fuel were down 1.9% in the final three months of its
Read moreLondon open: Sainsbury's and mining stocks bolster markets ahead of Fed
17th Mar 2015 08:49
UK stocks rose for the second straight day on Tuesday, helped by a strong performance on Asian markets overnight, ahead of the start of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting. The FTSE 100 was up 0.5% at 6,839.30 early on, helped by decent gains from a host of stocks in the mining and energy s
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks seen flat as investors await Fed meeting
17th Mar 2015 07:45
UK stocks are expected to open unchanged on Tuesday after a strong rally the previous session, as investors turn cautious ahead of a much-anticipated Federal Reserve meeting. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open more or less flat on Monday's close of 6,804.08. The Fed will kick off its two-d
Read moreSainsbury's sales fall as market to remain challenging for foreseeable future
17th Mar 2015 07:28
Sainsbury's posted a 1.9% fall in fourth-quarter like-for-like sales excluding fuel, not as bad as many had feared, but warned it expected the market to remain challenging for the foreseeable future. For the whole of 2014 the supermarket group's like-for-like sales were also down 1.9%, with total sa
Read moreLondon close: Stocks jump on central bank stimulus
16th Mar 2015 16:45
Strong gains from in the retail sector outweighed falls from energy stocks on Monday, as UK equities recovered strongly after their worst weekly performance so far this year. The FTSE 100 finished the session up 0.94% at 6,804.08 after dropping 2.5% last week. Despite the strong gains, oil and gas
Read moreTuesday preview: Antofagasta full-year results, Sainsbury trading update
16th Mar 2015 15:13
Antofagasta will report its 2014 financial results on Tuesday though the focus will likely be on reports the copper miner is reviewing the financial viability of its Chilean operation. President Diego Hernandez said the company is unable to guarantee its embattled Los Pelambres mine will continue to
Read moreSector movers: Tesco and Sainsbury on shopping lists as grocery stocks rise
16th Mar 2015 14:56
Supermarket stocks were the best performers in London on Monday as speculation about Tesco's data-analysis unit helped shares in the UK's largest retailer bounce, while Sainsbury rose ahead of a trading update the following day. According to Bloomberg this weekend, advertising giant WPP has made an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Retailers dominate risers, CRH lower on rejected merger
16th Mar 2015 14:08
Tesco led the FTSE 100 risers on reports that advertising and marketing giant WPP Group could potentially buy a majority stake in the supermarket's consumer behaviour tracker Dunnhumby. The business is valued at around £2bn and would offer WPP with an insight into UK shopping habits, the Sunday Tele
Read moreLondon close: Resource and utility stocks drag markets lower, data comes in weak
13th Mar 2015 16:45
UK stocks bounced off their lowest levels of the day by the close but still ended in the red as falling mining, energy and utility shares provided a drag. After touching a low of 6,713.50, London's FTSE 100 finished down 20.49 points (-0.3%) at 6,740.58, ending the week down 2.5%. Brent crude was t
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