Wednesday tips round-up: BHP Billiton, Serco, Pearson
10th Aug 2011 06:50
Funny how the same ideas come around again. Several decades ago, vertical integration ? owning every step of the production process ? was the norm. Then that gave way to employing contractors and squeezing them to gain efficiencies. Now, in mining, the old model is coming back into vogue: BHP Billit
Read moreLondon close: Gains wiped out
1st Aug 2011 16:57
After a late dive the top share index finished deep firmly in the red, reversing strong gains after some weak economic data from the US. The Institute of Supply Management´s (ISM) purchasing managers´ index for the manufacturing sector fell to 50.9 points in July, from 55.3 the month before. That d
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 adds more gains as HSBC impresses
1st Aug 2011 12:12
The leading share index is approaching triple-digit gains now with company updates driving shares higher. The FTSE 100 got off to a strong start and was boosted further by results from HSBC, which updated after the open. The banking giant unveiled a rise in profits and announced plans to cut up to
Read moreLondon open: 5,900 in sight as Footsie starts strongly
1st Aug 2011 08:32
Only four stocks were in the red on Monday morning as the blue chip index recovered from a week of losses on the back of the back-and-forth debt ceiling debates in the US. However, the saga is apparently close to its end after President Barack Obama and congressional leaders agreed on a deal to put
Read moreLondon pre-open: Debt ceiling deal set for warm welcome
1st Aug 2011 07:33
With the US debt ceiling saga apparently close to its end, at least until the world's biggest economy needs to up its borrowing requirement again, equities on this side of the pond are set for a relief rally after Friday's fall. President Barack Obama and US congressional leaders have agreed on a
Read moreSerco wins Aussie hospital contract
1st Aug 2011 07:09
Outsourcing behemoth Serco has signed a new hospital services contract, worth A$1.3bn (£850m), in Australia. The 10-year contract is with the Western Australian Department of Health to provide vital non-clinical support services at the new Fiona Stanley Hospital near Perth. The contract has two fiv
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Serco's growth rate to acclerate
6th Jul 2011 17:17
Fears that outsourcers such as Serco would be hard hit by the government's comprehensive spending review have yet to be fully realised, but the company's shares have been on a bad run of late. That seems to have prompted Citigroup to issue a "buy" note on the stock, with a target price of 670p. Ci
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain on euro hopes
28th Jun 2011 12:16
Stocks are still going well on hopes that the Greek crisis will soon be acted on. However, Cable & Wireless Worldwide is lower after saying chief executive Jim Marsh is to step down after the telecommunications group concluded profits are likely to fall short of previous expectations due to slower
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 moves higher, C&W Worldwide and Carpetright slump
28th Jun 2011 08:29
The FTSE 100 has climbed as investors await progress in troubled Eurozone member Greece, but gloomy updates C&W and Carpetright are reminding investors of the fragile state of our own economy. Cable & Wireless Worldwide's chief executive Jim Marsh is to step down after the telecommunications group
Read moreLondon pre-open: Cautiously firmer
28th Jun 2011 07:36
Today is yet another big day for Greece, and therefore the future of the eurozone, with the country's parliament set to vote on the package of austerity measures that the country needs to implement if it is to get the next tranche of bailout money from the European Union and the International Moneta
Read moreSerco sticking to its targets
28th Jun 2011 07:10
Outsourcing giant Serco will tell investment analysts on Tuesday to stick with their full-year estimates, as nothing much has changed since its last trading update on 9 May. "For 2011, we expect good organic revenue growth and progress towards our 2012 margin guidance," the company said in its pre-
Read moreSerco wins £140m security contract
15th Jun 2011 13:36
Outsourcing firm Serco has won a contract with the Western Australian Department of Corrective Services to provide court security and custodial services for A$210m (around £140m) over five years. Serco will provide inter-prison transfers, court security services and the operation of court custody c
Read moreSector movers: Outsourcers bolster support services
31st May 2011 16:41
The support services sector was among the best performing sectors of the day, helped by blue chip outsourcing peers Serco and Capita. Serco, the outsourcing company whose activities include running prisons and London's Docklands Light Railway, announced the acquisition of India-based service provid
Read moreLondon close: More gains for FTSE 100
31st May 2011 16:38
Stocks built on the strong gains they posted ahead of the long weekend, surpassing the 6,000 point mark but finishing slightly below that psychologically-important level. In company news, Serco, the outsourcing company whose activities include running prisons and London's Docklands Light Railway,mo
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Outsourcers improve on gains
31st May 2011 14:44
Serco, the outsourcing company whose activities include running prisons and London's Docklands Light Railway, has announced the acquisition of India-based service provider Intelenet for up to £385m, boosting shares higher on Tuesday. Prime Markets thinks that the purchase will "safely propel" Serco
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