FTSE 250 movers: Miners lower, WH Smith continues higher on franchise partner offers
17th Apr 2015 13:33
Mining stocks were trading lower, a result of widespread fluctuation in metal prices and Credit Suisse revealing that industrial metals performed poorly in March. Evraz, Vedanta Resources and Petra Diamonds were all in the red. Serco Group dipped as Fitch Ratings warned that the general election wou
Read moreWH Smith first half profit edges higher
16th Apr 2015 09:55
Retail group WH Smith said its first half pre-tax profit edged higher on the back of a sharp improvement in margins. The company said its pre-tax profit in the six months to the end of February climbed 4.3% to £72m, even though revenue declined 0.3% to £611m, as a 5% fall in its high street division
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Bellway, CardFactory
26th Mar 2015 17:45
There is no sign that housing is cooling off, homebuilder Bellway told investors. Since January its reservations were up by 10%, despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections. In the latest half-year, ended in January, the company increased its spend on land by 48% to hit £355m - althou
Read moreThursday broker round-up
5th Mar 2015 12:41
Rightmove: Credit Suisse lifts target price to 3220p from 2700p but cuts to neutral. Aviva: Panmure Gordon reiterates buy - with a 660p target, as does Westhouse Securities. Standard Chartered: UBS increases target price to 1000p from 980p and reiterates neutral view. Asos: Nomura ups target to 3,
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Centamin lower on Alecto Minerals split, De La Rue strong on potential bid
18th Feb 2015 13:52
Centamin was in the red after revealing it was pulling out of its joint venture with Alecto Minerals in Ethiopia. Results from its 2014 drilling programme, which included 25 diamond drills holes at Wayu Boda, and the analysis of surface work carried out during the year will be handed to Alecto when
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Petra Diamonds falls short of full-year profit expectations
26th Jan 2015 14:40
Diamond mine operator Petra Diamonds was trading lower after announcing that it may not meet analysts' expectations for full-year profits. Sales jumped by 16% in the first six months of the year to reach $214.8m. The increased sales in the period were in part thanks to the sale of two exceptional di
Read moreWH Smith high street sales down, but "in line with plan"
21st Jan 2015 10:04
WH Smith shares were down after it reported a decrease of 2% in like-for-like sales during the last 20 weeks. Despite an increase of like-for-like sales in its travel division of 2%, high street sales were down 5%, which was in line with its plan. However, the FTSE 250 retailer said its gross margi
Read moreUK Mail CEO bags a bargain after posting dividend growth
19th Nov 2014 15:48
With share in his company down 44% from this year's earlier all-time high of 715p, UK Mail chief executive Guy Buswell has bagged a sackful of shares the day after the company hiked its dividend. Buswell bought 18,310 shares at a price of 405p, shelling out £74,156 in total a day after announcing fl
Read moreThursday broker round-up.-Update
13th Nov 2014 10:21
AstraZeneca: JP Morgan raises target price from 3700p to 4100p, keeping its underweight rating. AVEVA Group: Barclays upgrades to overweight. Bellway: Credit Suisse raises target price from 1876p to 1905p and keeps a neutral rating. Bow Leven: Barclays shifts target price from 45p to 50p and retai
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
12th Nov 2014 09:07
Aberdeen: UBS lowers target price from 465p to 450p and downgrades from buy to neutral. ASOS: Societe Generale reduces target price from 5000p to 4450p, while leaving its buy recommendation unchanged. BG Group: Deutsche Bank reduces target price from 1400p to 1300p and keeps a buy recommendation.
Read moreWH Smith reports flat start to the new financial year
12th Nov 2014 08:03
WH Smith's like-for-like (LFL) sales dropped 1% in the first 10 weeks of its financial year, reflecting the poor performance of high street stores. The British stationary and books retailer said high street LFL sales declined 4%, offsetting a 2% increase in its travel division, which includes stores
Read moreJohn Menzies issues warning over aviation profit
5th Nov 2014 10:08
Aviation services and newspaper distribution group John Menzies warned on annual profits in its aviation and ground handling operation due to regulatory changes. Following the announcement, the Edinburgh-based firm said it would address the problems in the aviation division and revealed that the man
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Retail stocks lead rise as footfall decline slows
21st Oct 2014 14:38
Retail stocks were putting in a strong performance on Tuesday after data from BRC-Springboard showed the decline in UK retail footfall eased to 0.9% in September from a 1.1% drop in August. Stocks such as Debenhams, Home Retail, Just Eat, WH Smith and Halfords were all in positive territory. "With a
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Oct 2014 09:48
African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Securities cuts target price from 285p to 230p maintaining an add rating. Antofagasta: Westhouse Securities reduces target price from 805p to 720p retaining its neutral rating. Centamin: Westhouse Securities shifts target price from 65p to 70p upgrading to buy. DCC:
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Bwin.party climbs after pleasing with Q3 results
16th Oct 2014 16:16
Gaming giant Bwin.party rose after it reported a 2% rise in third quarter revenue to €148.7m as an increase in sports betting sales offset a fall in bingo, casino and poker. Sports betting revenue advanced 11% to €58.8m, driven by higher margins, the World Cup and growth in the number of people usin
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