Broker tips: Utilities, Laird, Bookmakers
22nd Mar 2012 11:41
While Nomura has maintained a bearish view on the UK utilities sector, yesterday's Budget did include a cut in corporation tax leading the broker to upgrade its target prices for utilities under its coverage. Nomura made the following changes to its ratings/reiterations in the utilities sector toda
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura lifts targets for utilities after Budget
22nd Mar 2012 10:26
While Nomura has maintained a bearish view on the UK utilities sector, yesterday's Budget did include a cut in corporation tax leading the broker to upgrade its target prices for utilities under its coverage. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced yesterday that the planned sequence o
Read moreThursday broker round-up
22nd Mar 2012 09:58
AMEC: JP Morgan Cazenove downgrades from overweight to neutral, target lifted from 1,252p to 1,344p. AstraZeneca: Liberium Capital upgrades from sell to buy, target lifted from 2,700p to 3,100p. British Land: Espirto Santo downgrades from buy to neutral. Capital Shopping Centres Group: Societe Ge
Read moreBroker tips: Unilever, Regus, Energy stocks
20th Mar 2012 11:19
Investec has cut its recommendation for food and cosmetic goods giant Unilever from buy to hold and cut its target price from 2,170p to 2,100p - the first time it has downgraded the stock in 17 years. While the broker says it is still an admirer of the company, two things are a cause for concern: a
Read moreBroker snap: Uncertainty persists in the energy sector, says Nomura
20th Mar 2012 10:17
Nomura has highlighted National Grid and United Utilities as its key picks in the UK utilities sector, but has warned that uncertainties still remain given the current climate and regulatory intervention. "Energy continues to be a contentious issue in UK politics - the economic downturn, combined w
Read moreLondon open: Markets await news from Greece
8th Mar 2012 08:34
- Greek debt-swap participation rate estimated at 60 percent. - Markets await policy decisions from BoE, ECB. - ARM rises after iPad launch, Morrison jumps on strong 2011. London's blue chip index continued its strong performance ahead of policy decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the Euro
Read moreLondon close: Footsie falls, banks rise but miners provide a drag
2nd Mar 2012 16:33
- Kazakhmys drops after broker downgrades. - Banks jumps after Goldman comments. - Eurogroup releases 58bn euros but delays full Greek bailout. - 25 EU members sign fiscal pact. The FTSE 100 fell close to its lowest levels of the day on Friday as Eurozone concerns continued to dampen the mood. A
Read moreBroker tips: SSE, Rentokil, Cove Energy
2nd Mar 2012 10:32
Credit Suisse has raised its target price for gas and electricity group SSE from 1,400p to 1,450p, saying that the CO2 floor price should drive up the group's profitability. The broker sees the CO2 floor price as a potential positive for SSE, as it should benefit from the high power prices that it
Read moreBroker snap: Credit Suisse raises target for SSE
2nd Mar 2012 09:39
Credit Suisse has raised its target price for gas and electricity group SSE from 1,400p to 1,450p, saying that the CO2 floor price should drive up the group's profitability. "Despite tough markets, the quality of SSE's Generation fleet has enabled it to keep earnings flat," analysts said. The brok
Read moreFriday broker round-up - UPDATE
2nd Mar 2012 09:28
Man Group: UBS raises target from 160p to 165p, buy rating unchanged. WPP: UBS ups target from 840p to 920p, buy rating kept. Standard Chartered: AlphaValue downgrades from reduce to sell, price target upped from 1,413.8p to 1,425.9p. IMI: Panmure Gordon keeps buy rating and 1,020p target. Cairn
Read moreOfgem proposes utilities competition regulation
22nd Feb 2012 15:00
Ofgem has put forward proposals for mandatory sales of 25% of the annual electicity generated by the six largest utility firms in a bid to improve competition. The UK power market watchdog has suggested that the 'big six' be obligated to sell key products for delivery ranging from three months to
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish up after US data
2nd Feb 2012 16:37
After a morning session in the red, UK stocks erased losses in afternoon trading after some better-than-expected data Stateside helped the outlook for the world's largest economy. Leading the rise on the Footsie were the miners after some M&A rumours bolstered gains. Nevertheless, analysts at Digi
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes up but gains pared after US data
31st Jan 2012 16:32
Early gains were trimmed by the end of trade on Tuesday after consumer confidence data in the US disappointed, sending US benchmarks into the red. The Footsie finished just 11 points higher at 5,682, well below the intraday high of 5,730 seen in the morning session. Meanwhile, Greek debt-swap talks
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks continue to climb after EU summit
31st Jan 2012 11:48
UK stocks had extending gains by lunchtime with results from ARM Holdings, British Sky Broadcasting and Vedanta Resources lifting the Footsie nearly 1% higher. Markets across Europe appear to have taken the agreements made by EU leaders yesterday well with the major benchmark indices rebounding from
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on EU fiscal compact
31st Jan 2012 08:19
UK stocks headed higher on Tuesday morning following last night's agreements made by European leaders at the EU summit. President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy revealed that the permanent rescue fund and 'fiscal compact' had been approved at the meeting in Brussels. "Today we have taken
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