Friday tips round-up: RPC, Rio Tinto, DS Smith...
17th Dec 2010 06:57
RPC Group has spent ten years wooing Denmark's Superfos Industries but has finally won the day after its rival agreed to a £205m takeover. Making soup containers for Waitrose and coffee capsules for Nespresso machines may have all the hallmarks of a defensive stock. But the Superfos deal has turned
Read moreFriday tips round-up: DS Smith, Xstrata, HMV...
10th Dec 2010 06:44
As a low-growth, low-margin stock, packaging group DS Smith had previously been bought for its high yield; after their sharp rise since halfway through last year, the shares now return a little more than 2%. They are on about 13 times this year's earnings, a premium rating for the stock, but susta
Read moreLondon close: Footsie clings to lead
9th Dec 2010 16:40
A weak morning session on Wall Street did London no favours Thursday, although the big banks helped the leading index to only its second close above 5,800 in over three weeks. Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland were top of the pile. HSBC also did well, but fellow Asia-focused player Stand
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ashtead leads the market higher
9th Dec 2010 15:06
Top of the list on Thursday afternoon is equipment hire firm Ashtead which said growing sales in North America lifted second quarter sales but it warned end markets remain fragile. Underlying pre-tax profit rose 49% to £18.1m in the second quarter ended 31 October 2010. Revenue advanced 9% to £245.2
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks help index advance
9th Dec 2010 14:42
A mostly better banking sector, gains for some of the mining heavyweights and a decent start on Wall Street are offsetting losses among the big retailers. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are going well following a good session in overseas markets, though Asia-focused Standard Chartered
Read moreLondon midday: Shares steady as Bank holds rates
9th Dec 2010 12:13
The midday announcement that interest rates and quantitative easing will remain unchanged surprised no one and shares remain little changed. Banks and miners are going well. Platinum specialist Lonmin, copper miners Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and ENRC are also in demand, as are the Australian iron ore
Read moreLondon open: Miners on the march
9th Dec 2010 08:44
The leading share index is posting good gains this morning, with the mining sector on the march as metals prices advance. Platinum specialist Lonmin leads the FTSE 100 higher. Copper miners Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and ENRC are also in demand, as are the Australian iron ore duo Rio Tinto and BHP Bill
Read moreDS Smith profits rise despite higher costs
9th Dec 2010 08:22
Shares in packaging group DS Smith rose after it announced higher revenues and profits in the first half and said the strong performance had continued despite rising input costs. Pre-tax profits in the six months to 31 October climbed by 17.5% from the same period the previous year to £40.2m. Reven
Read moreThursday Preview: HMV, DS Smith, interest rates
8th Dec 2010 17:29
CD and DVD retailer HMV also sells video games, and is reporting interim results the day after Game said its margins this year will be down by between 1.6-1.9 percentage points due to the ferocious competition in the games and consoles market. CD and DVD sales face similar challenges and HMV is exp
Read moreLondon close: Bad day ends badly
27th Oct 2010 16:12
London ended the day heavily in the red as a triple-digit fall on Wall Street knocked an attempted rally by Footsie firmly on the head. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected hit the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto the worst performers. Britis
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally fizzles out
27th Oct 2010 14:23
Expectations of a weak opening on Wall Street put an end to London's attempt to move into positive territory, and losses lengthened again over the lunch time session. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and
Read moreLondon midday: Miners keep Footsie subdued
27th Oct 2010 11:58
Footsie has dragged itself off the lows seen earlier in the morning but with weak metal prices hitting mining shares, the index is not making much headway. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have also knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio T
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
27th Oct 2010 08:44
London has followed on from last night's lacklustre performance on Wall Street and a weak display in Asia this morning with a poor start. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto the worst performe
Read moreDS Smith upbeat as interims loom
27th Oct 2010 08:07
DS Smith is in confident mood in the run up to December's interim results, which the paper and plastic packaging firm thinks will be way ahead of last year as the "encouraging" overall trading in the first quarter continued into the second. Volumes continue to be "good", with "robust" growth at the
Read moreEuropean Nickel non-exec buys
9th Sep 2010 17:01
European Nickel non-exec Neil Herbert has invested £216,000 in the nickel miner and explorer which recently merged with fellow AIM-quoted explorer Rusina Mining. Herbert bought 900,000 shares at 24p a share, which gives him 0.39% of the company. The shares were trading at below 24p each prior to t
Read more