FTSE 100 movers: Financials, IAG and CRH lead the risers
19th Dec 2012 15:31
Insurance and banking stocks were performing well on Wednesday afternoon after Credit Suisse upgraded its ratings on both sectors this morning. Lloyds was up 4% after the Swiss broker raised its view on European banks to 'benchmark' from 'small underweight', saying that the stock looks "abnormally
Read moreLondon midday: The 'Santa Rally' begins...
19th Dec 2012 11:35
An upgrade of Greece's credit rating and a better-than-expected reading of German sentiment saw European stock markets make impressive gains on Wednesday. Meanwhile, increasing optimism that US leaders can strike a deal to avert the 'fiscal cliff' was also continuing to bolster the bullish mood.
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Dec 2012 07:22
Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec reduces target price from 93p to 68p and downgrades from buy to hold. Numis downgrades to hold, while maintaining the target price at 165p. Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 93p to 90p and retains a buy recommendation. Anglo American: JP Morgan moves tar
Read moreStanChart to settle with US authorities for 330m dollars
10th Dec 2012 17:18
Standard Chartered (SCB) announced late on Monday afternoon that it had reached a final settlement with the main US state and federal financial oversight agencies regarding allegations of 'money laundering.' The above after the bank voluntarily reported its findings concerning past sanctions compli
Read moreFriday tips round-up: CareTech, Premier Farnell and Standard Chartered
7th Dec 2012 07:30
Tempus in The Times writes that one company that has had a difficult couple of years is CareTech Holdings, the AIM-quoted provider of specialist care homes. There was a bizarre row over a policy of capitalising the salaries of members of staff seeking acquisitions. At least one bid and one managem
Read moreLondon midday: Gains erased as investors await ECB decision
6th Dec 2012 12:08
The Footsie had erased most of the morning's gains by Thursday lunchtime, as investors awaited a policy rate decision in Europe and some jobless claims figures in the US later this afternoon. As expected, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the Bank Rate at 0.5% at tod
Read moreBroker tips: StanChart, Sage, Premier Farnell
6th Dec 2012 11:22
Investec has reiterated its 'buy' rating and 1,800p target price for emerging markets lender Standard Chartered following the group's pre-close trading update, saying the business is 'sitting pretty'. "STAN may have travelled well ahead of today's statement, but with improving momentum into 2013e,
Read moreBroker snap: StanChart's 'sitting pretty', says Investec
6th Dec 2012 10:19
Investec has reiterated its 'buy' rating and 1,800p target price for emerging markets lender Standard Chartered following the group's pre-close trading update, saying the business is 'sitting pretty'. The company said today that full-year income growth is expected to be in the high single digits, t
Read moreStanChart to settle US claims with 330m-pound fine - UPDATE
6th Dec 2012 09:12
Emerging markets bank Standard Chartered said it is in on track to deliver another strong set of full-year results this year as it reiterated that it is near to settling claims over Iran-linked transactions with US authorities. Following a payment of $340m made to the New York State Department of F
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher ahead of rate decisions
6th Dec 2012 08:26
Stocks started Thursday's session with moderate gains on the back of hopes that US politicians are nearing an agreement on the 'fiscal cliff', as markets looked ahead to policy announcements in both the UK and Europe. "European headline shares opened vigilantly today as a raft of economic data due
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to open flat as investors weigh up news
6th Dec 2012 07:30
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up just one point from yesterday's close of 5,892, as investors balance renewed hopes surrounding the 'fiscal cliff' in the US with concerns over the monetary policy decisions of the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB). President Ba
Read moreStanChart expects to take another 330m-dollar hit to settle US claims
6th Dec 2012 07:19
Emerging markets bank Standard Chartered said it is in on track to deliver another strong set of full-year results this year as it reiterated that it is near to settling claims over Iran-linked transactions with US authorities. Following a payment of $340m made to the New York State Department of F
Read moreThursday preview: Standard Chartered offers trading update
5th Dec 2012 15:40
Standard Chartered offers a pre-close trading update on Thursday, with analysts at Credit Suisse noting it recently downgraded the stock to 'Underperform' and that they prefer HSBC in the UK Asian bank space. Credit Suisse estimates the bank will report 7.2% year-on-year revenue growth, with underl
Read moreLondon close: Miners surge on US hopes
29th Nov 2012 16:39
- US GDP and housing data boosts stocks - 'Fiscal cliff' concerns ease after politicians' comments - Mining stocks rise on demand hopes Hopes about the US economy were driving gains on Thursday as investors reacted positively to comments from politicians about the 'fiscal cliff' and decent economic
Read moreBroker snap: StanChart nearing Iran settlement, Investec says 'buy'
29th Nov 2012 15:31
Investec has reiterated its 'buy' rating and 1,800p target price for emerging markets bank Standard Chartered on the back of reports that the lender is close to a settlement over the 'Irangate' saga. According to media report, from The Wall Street Journal and others, a final $300m settlement is pen
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