Standard Life reports 13% increase in fee income
29th Oct 2014 07:13
Standard Life reported fee revenue accelerated in the third quarter as the group powered a 9% underlying increase in assets under administration thanks to the completed acquisition of Ignis Asset Management. The FTSE 100 insurance and asset management company declared it remained "strongly placed" t
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
24th Sep 2014 09:15
Aggreko: Morgan Stanley ups target price from 1350p to 1375p, while leaving its underweight rating unaltered. Alliance Pharma: Canaccord Genuity lowers target price from 35p to 33p reiterating its hold recommendation. Close Brothers Group: UBS moves target price from 1420p to 1430p and keeps a neut
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
23rd Sep 2014 09:36
AVEVA: JP Morgan reduces target price from 2450p to 1825p, while leaving its overweight rating unchanged. African Minerals: Credit Suisse reduces target price from 120p to 25p, while leaving its neutral rating unchanged. Aviva: Goldman Sachs ups target price from 490p to 515p and reiterates a neutr
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks near two-week high as Scots vote against independence
19th Sep 2014 11:18
UK stocks advanced on Friday, poised to finish at their highest levels in two weeks, after the Scottish people voted in favour of the Union in a crucial independence referendum. Some 55.3% of Scots voted 'no' to independence from the UK while 44.7% voted 'yes', erasing concerns about a break-up whic
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks rise as Scots vote 'no' to independence
19th Sep 2014 08:22
UK stocks staged a relief rally on Friday morning in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum, which saw people north of the border vote convincingly to remain part of the Union. Some 55.3% of Scots voted 'no' to independence from the UK while 44.7% voted 'yes', erasing concerns about a break-up whi
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: TUI rises after broker upgrade
18th Sep 2014 16:07
TUI Travel was a strong performer on Thursday thanks to an upgrade from Morgan Stanley to 'overweight' following its merger with TUI AG. Scotland-based businesses such as RBS, Lloyds, Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management were among the best performers as investors readied themselves for th
Read moreLondon midday: Scottish stocks lead gains ahead of crucial referendum
18th Sep 2014 11:43
After a slow start, London stocks advanced on Thursday with the FTSE 100 bouncing off its lowest levels in nearly a month, as companies based north of the border advanced with the focus firmly on the Scottish referendum. The benchmark Footsie index was trading 0.4% higher at 6,811 by noon. Three str
Read moreLondon close: Scottish banks recover after poll signals 'no' vote
11th Sep 2014 16:20
Scottish-based banks and insurers regained poise in the London market on Thursday after a new poll showed unionists back in the lead in the Scottish independence stakes. Royal Bank of Scotland lifted 3.8p to 346p, Lloyds Banking Group ticked up 0.85p to 74.08p and Standard Life advanced 6p to 413.4p
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Next results fall short of City expectations
11th Sep 2014 14:53
FTSE 100 retailer Next confirmed total sales growth of 10.3% in the first half and slightly upgraded its full-year earnings guidance, but shares slumped after the figures fell short of City analysts' ambitious forecasts. Retail stores and its online business both delivered significant growth to lift
Read moreLondon midday: Miners pull UK stocks lower after weak Chinese data
11th Sep 2014 11:56
Weakness in the heavyweight mining sector pushed UK equity markets into the red on Thursday, outweighing a decent performance by financial stocks. Underwhelming interim results from the likes of Morrisons and Next were also weighing on sentiment in London. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.4% lower at 6,8
Read moreLondon open: UK markets flat despite decent gains from banks
11th Sep 2014 08:28
Despite decent gains by Royal Bank of Scotland, the UK stock market opened more or less flat on Thursday morning as investors speculated about stimulus measures in China. London's FTSE 100 was trading at 6,828 in early deals, down slightly on Wednesday's close of 6,830.11. While concerns about the
Read moreLondon close: Referendum jitters weigh on stocks
9th Sep 2014 18:20
London shares ended Tuesday’s session in the red as jitters about the Scottish independence referendum offset more positive economic news. The FTSE 100 Index closed 5.77 points down at 6,829 as investors chewed over one poll giving Scottish separatists the lead and another with the ‘no&r
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Citigroup comments lift Morrisons
9th Sep 2014 15:39
Supermarket chain WM Morrison moved north after Citigroup upgraded its rating on the stock to 'buy'. The bank said that the company's 7.5% dividend yield is "safe", playing down recent concerns that have weighed on the shares in recent weeks. JP Morgan Cazenove reiterated its 'underweight' position
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks inch lower on Scottish vote concerns
9th Sep 2014 11:45
UK stocks fell for the third straight day on Tuesday as uncertainty caused by the upcoming Scottish referendum and geopolitcal tensions in eastern Europe dampened risk appetite. The FTSE 100 was 0.1% lower at 6,829 by midday, though it traded within a narrow range for most of the morning. Equity ma
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: AB Foods continues to feel impact of lower sugar prices, FX
8th Sep 2014 15:01
Food, ingredients and retail group Associated British Foods was a big faller despite reiterating its guidance for profit growth in the year to 13 September despite the continued impact of lower sugar prices and currency movements. AB Foods said that strong profit performances from the Primark and gr
Read more