Sector movers: Antofagasta, Randgold lead miners lower
3rd May 2012 14:54
Falling metals prices and some disappointing trading updates from Antofagasta and Randgold Resources were weighing on the mining sector today. Copper prices were at a one-week low today after mixed economic data from the US and concerns over the Eurozone debt crisis - fuelled by some gloomy manufac
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smith and Nephew beat expectations
3rd May 2012 14:36
Shares in technology group Smith and Nephew marched ahead after profits and margins at medical beat both analysts' and management forecasts in the first quarter of 2012. Alcoholic drinks maker Diageo's was also on the up following its announcement that growth in the third quarter of its fiscal yea
Read moreLondon midday: Investors eye ECB decision as stocks edge higher
3rd May 2012 12:08
- Investors await ECB decision - Successful bond auctions in France, Spain - Mixed reception to barrage of corporate updates The Footsie had traded within a narrow range in morning trade after a strong start ahead of a closely watch interest rate decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) due th
Read moreBroker tips: Legal and General, Randgold, Smith and Nephew
3rd May 2012 10:47
Nomura has maintained its buy rating and 182p target price for insurance group Legal and General, saying that the firm's first quarter showed strong asset management inflows. The stock is trading at just 7.7 times 2012 earnings, compared with the UK sector average multiple of 9.6. "We think the sh
Read moreBroker snap: Upwards margin surprise at S and N, says Jefferies
3rd May 2012 10:30
Jefferies has reiterated its buy recommendation and 740p target price for medical devices group Smith and Nephew after a 'solid' first-quarter update this morning. Sales rose 3% on an underlying basis to $1,079m, bang in line with consensus estimates. Adjusted earnings per share (EPSA) came in at
Read moreThursday broker round-up
3rd May 2012 09:15
Afren: finnCap downgrades from buy to hold. Carnival: Shore Capital upgrades from hold to buy. CSR: Jefferies reiterates buy rating and 290p target. Fenner: Credit Suisse downgrades from outperform to neutral, target cut from 540p to 480p. Ferrexpo: Renaissance Capital upgrades from hold to buy.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise ahead of ECB decision
3rd May 2012 08:34
- Mixed reception to barrage of blue-chip corporate updates - ECB expected to maintains rates - Kesa in demand after Darty development The FTSE 100 rose strongly on Thursday morning, rebounding after a sharp fall the day before, with investors looking ahead to an interest rate decision from the Eur
Read moreSmith and Nephew beats first-quarter forecasts
3rd May 2012 07:54
Profits at medical technology group Smith and Nephew beat both analysts' and management forecasts in the first quarter of 2012, which it said was down to the actions being taken to reshape the company. Trading profit in the three months to March 31st increased by 5% year-on-year to $252m. US broker
Read moreThursday preview: Smith and Nephew, Diageo, BG Group
2nd May 2012 16:18
The heads of day-traders could be in danger of exploding on Thursday morning as a welter of big names are set to update the market. First quarter results from medical devices maker Smith & Nephew are expected to be weak, largely because the company has said they would be. "We do not expect any sig
Read moreLondon close: Financials weigh on Footsie
18th Apr 2012 16:34
- Financials, ex-div stocks weigh down Footsie - BoE's Miles alone on more QE - Italy may delay achieving balanced budget by a year The Footsie finished firmly lower on Wednesday afternoon despite some positive domestic jobless figures, as concerns over the Eurozone continued to dampen sentiment. S
Read moreLondon midday: Investors show caution after yesterday's strong rise
18th Apr 2012 11:46
- Ex-div stocks weigh on Footsie - MPC minutes: Miles calls for more QE - Eurozone swings to deficit in February - UK jobless rate falls for first time since May 2011 London's FTSE 100 index was trading slightly lower by Wednesday lunchtime following a strong showing from the benchmark yesterday, a
Read moreWednesday broker round-up - UPDATE
11th Apr 2012 09:36
Barclays: Investec upgrades from hold to buy. Centamin Egypt: Nomura cuts target from 120p to 100p, neutral rating retained. Dignity: Peel Hunt reiterates hold rating and 800p target. Dunelm Group: Investec lifts target from 450p to 500p, hold rating kept; Panmure Gordon keeps buy rating and 600
Read moreIG Group non-exec tops up stake
30th Mar 2012 16:06
Stephen Hill, a Non-Executive Director of IG Group Holdings, the FTSE 250 spread-betting firm, has purchased 111,736 shares. Hill, who worked as the CEO of the Financial Times for Pearson between 1996 and 2002, bought the shares at 444.15p each for a total of £496,275. The purchase comes just a
Read moreBroker tips: Smith and Nephew, Compass, Hansteen
28th Mar 2012 11:18
Investec has this morning downgraded its rating for medical devices maker Smith and Nephew from buy to hold and cut the target price slightly from 663p to 660p. "We move our recommendation from buy to hold as, whilst we think the business is making good progress, the combination of what looks like
Read moreBroker snap: Investec downgrades Smith and Nephew to hold
28th Mar 2012 11:16
Investec has this morning downgraded its rating for medical devices maker Smith and Nephew from buy to hold and cut the target price slightly from 663p to 660p. "We move our recommendation from buy to hold as, whilst we think the business is making good progress, the combination of what looks like
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