Shanks on course for FY
22nd Jul 2010 08:17
Waste management firm Shanks said trading has been line with expectations in the quarter to 30 June 2010 and is set to meet full year expectations. Shanks said returns from its strategic investment programme and improvements in PFI margins are offsetting the expected one off decline in the Belgian
Read moreShanks Group: 1Q Investment Returns, Margins Offset Declines
22nd Jul 2010 08:08
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Waste management company Shanks Group PLC (SKS.LN) Thursday said returns from its investment program and improving margins on private finance initiative, or PFI, projects, offset declines in its 2011 fiscal-year first quarter. In an update for the three months ended June 30,
Read moreLondon close: Footsie slides again on euro woes
20th May 2010 16:34
London took its place in line on another miserable day for European stock markets as concern about the health of Europe sparked a switch into bonds. US shares also slumped as German chancellor Angela Merkel issued more controversial comments, including advocating a hands-on global response to marke
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie lower on weak US
20th May 2010 14:24
Futures pointing to a sharp dip in US markets early on knocked blue chips in London as the afternoon session got underway. Rio Tinto leads the miners lower after Bank of America Merrill Lynch removed the stock from its "Europe 1" list and downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "buy". The broker sa
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifts into the red
20th May 2010 12:07
Footsie dipped into negative territory shortly before the lunch time session commenced, with miners largely responsible for the downturn. Rio Tinto leads the miners lower after Bank of America Merrill Lynch removed the stock from its "Europe 1" list and downgraded the stock to "neutral" from "buy".
Read moreLondon open: Markets start well
20th May 2010 08:46
London's leading shares are posting good gains following the heavy sell-off yesterday. Gas and electricity pipeline grid operator National Grid is a big faller though. The group announced a fully underwritten rights issue to raise £3.2bn as it posted a 57% rise in full year profits. Pre-tax profit
Read moreShanks profits fall, divi up 76%
20th May 2010 07:53
Waste management firm Shanks saw profits fall in a "challenging" year but still upped dividends by 76%. Pre-tax profits fell to £19.6m from £29.3m before, due to a £11.4m exceptional charge. Revenues were slightly lower, down to £683.5m from £685.1m. Dividend was raised to 3p per share from 1.7p l
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dignity drifts lower
12th Mar 2010 13:49
Shares in Dignity have continued drifting lower after yesterday's full-year figures. The funeral services group said pre-tax profits climbed to £37.5m from £35.4m on revenues that rose to £184.7m from £175.8m, but market share slipped slightly. The company also said the first quarter of 2010 is exp
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Dignity, Clarkson, Cineworld
12th Mar 2010 06:59
Funeral group Dignity's shares have jumped by just 10% the past year, suggesting they are fairly valued, trading on a 2010 price-to-earnings ratio of 15.5 times. In the longer term, the so-called "baby boomers" are expected to start dying off in large numbers over the next few years, which will pro
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks trade sideways
10th Mar 2010 14:25
The market traded sideways over the lunchtime session allowing the blue-chip index to retain its tenuous position above the 6500 level. Mining stocks are doing their bit to bolster the Footsie as metal prices rise following a sharp increase in imports into China in February. Banks are also doing th
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Bid talk builds up Barratt
10th Mar 2010 14:24
Shares in Barratt climbed amid talk of a bid possibly from rival housebuilder Persimmon. Shares in derivatives broker Tullett Prebon leapt ahead as it confirmed it has been approached over a possible offer for the company. Waste group Shanks is higher after falling yesterday following its abandonm
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 250 stocks shine
10th Mar 2010 12:01
The Footsie is clinging on to positive territory, not helped by the likes of Admiral, BATS, Serco, Schroders, Standard Chartered and TUI Travel trading in ex-dividend form today. The main points of interest this morning were outside of the FTSE 100 index, however. FTSE 250 constituent Tullett Prebo
Read moreBroker snap: Goldman upgrades Shanks
10th Mar 2010 10:51
Goldman Sachs raised its rating on Shanks to 'buy' from 'neutral' after the waste group's shares fell following its abandonment of talks with private equity group Carlyle about a possible offer. The broker notes that Shanks trades at 8.9 times earnings, a significant discount to both the wider util
Read moreLondon close: Late rally limits losses
9th Mar 2010 16:36
A strong early performance from US shares helped Footsie recover from earlier weakness to close only slightly lower on a U-shaped day for the leading share index. Sentiment had earlier been dented by weak economic news. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK's deficit on trade i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie meanders in the red
9th Mar 2010 14:18
Disappointing UK trade figures knocked Footsie early with little help likely from the US as futures point to a weak start on Wall Street. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK's deficit on trade in goods widened to £7.99bn from £7.01bn the previous month, about £1bn more than
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