London close: Banks fall after GDP data, markets await Fed
25th Jan 2012 16:14
- UK GDP figures disappoint. - Markets await FOMC statement and Bernanke. UK stocks finished firmly in the red after worse-than-expected UK gross domestic product (GDP) figures sent banks reeling early on. Meanwhile, markets in the US were mixed ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sta
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Renishaw in top spot
25th Jan 2012 14:01
Renishaw, the measurement and medical device manufacturer, surged into the top spot on news the firm's revenues rose 11% in the first half. Geographically, revenue in Europe increased by 25% over the comparable period and the Americas were ahead by 23%. Bookshop and newsagent chain WH Smith was als
Read moreBroker tips: Glencore, WH Smith, Britvic
25th Jan 2012 12:22
UBS has cut its target price for commodities producer and marketer Glencore but has maintained its buy rating, saying it "still expects strong momentum into 2012". The Swiss broker has reduced its earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for Glencore by 19% and 18% for 2011 and 2012 to reflect what it be
Read moreBroker snap: WH Smith's fair value, Peel Hunt keeps at hold
25th Jan 2012 12:20
Peel Hunt has maintained is hold rating on high street retailer WH Smith after Christmas trading was "in line with subdued like-for-like [LFL] expectations." The company said total sales for the group were down 3% in the 21 weeks to January 21st, compared to the corresponding period a year earlier.
Read moreLondon midday: Banks fall as GDP figures disappoint
25th Jan 2012 11:55
- UK GDP contracts in the fourth quarter. - BoE unanimous in decision to maintain rates. - Mortgage approvals rise. In spite of a strong start, London's FTSE 100 experienced a sharp decline in morning trade following some disappointing gross domestic product figures which came in worse than expecte
Read moreWednesday broker round-up - UPDATE
25th Jan 2012 09:00
Ashmore: Barclays upgrades to overweight from neutral. Glencore: UBS cuts target from 530p to 490p, buy rating unchanged. Vodafone: Nomura reiterates buy rating and 230p target. Britvic: Nomura keeps buy recommendation and 425p target; Collins Stewart gives sell rating and 290p target. WH Smit
Read moreLondon open: Stocks up ahead of economic data
25th Jan 2012 08:39
London's Footsie opened slightly higher on Wednesday morning with the mood boosted by last night's strong showing from US tech giant Apple. In UK news, a raft of economic data is due out this morning, including the minutes from the January meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to rise on Apple results
25th Jan 2012 07:28
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 15 points from yesterday's close of 5,752, boosted by an excellent quarterly report from technology giant Apple, announced after last night's trading close. Newsagent WH Smith said trading in the 21 weeks to January 21st was resilient, with profit gro
Read moreMilder December weather a boon to WH Smith
25th Jan 2012 07:11
Like-for-like (LFL) sales are still on the decline at newsagent WH Smith, but at least the rate of decline is easing as sales in the final month of 2011 were not hit by fierce weather conditions like they were in 2010. The company said total sales for the group were down 3% in the 21 weeks to Janua
Read moreWednesday preview: WH Smith, BoE's MPC minutes
24th Jan 2012 15:24
With the flurry of Christmas trading updates almost over, newsagent WH Smith is one of the last of the household names from the retail sector to report, when it has its annual general meeting on Wednesday. In its November update WH Smith said sales in the first 10 weeks of its financial year were d
Read moreBroker tips: Chemring, Thomas Cook, Retailers
24th Jan 2012 11:40
FinnCap has maintained its hold rating and 480p target price for military equipment maker Chemring following the firm's full-year results which the broker says were accompanied with a "fairly lacklustre outlook statement regarding NATO spending". "The shares have bounced by around 17% over the last
Read moreBroker snap: Macro uncertainties continue in retail, says Nomura
24th Jan 2012 10:18
Nomura has maintained its neutral view on the 'European General Retail' sector, saying that while retail sales appear doing OK in January, the macroeconomic environment is still uncertain and sector valuations remain uncompelling. The broker draws attention to weekly data provided by John Lewis and
Read moreWeek Ahead: WH Smith, Aveva, MPC minutes
20th Jan 2012 09:16
With the flurry of Christmas trading updates almost over, next week is looking relatively quiet on the corporate front, with newsagent WH Smith one of the last of the household names from the retail sector to report, when it has its annual general meeting on Wednesday. In its November update WH Smi
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Domino's leads the way
4th Jan 2012 12:53
Domino's Pizza was flying high despite seeing a slow-down in year-on-year like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in the final quarter of 2012, as expected. The stock was boosted by the company's reassurance it is on target to meet full-year profit expectations. In the 13 weeks to December 25, LFL sales r
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Shaftesbury, Cineworld, Christmas shares
1st Dec 2011 07:06
The Tempus column in The Times ponders which stocks would fit into a share portfolio consisting of stocks exposed to London and the South East only, and suggests that one would be Shaftesbury, the property company whose assets consist almost entirely of shops, restaurants and bars in the West End. I
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