London close: Footsie nudges higher, Ecofin meeting eyed
29th Nov 2011 16:37
The FTSE 100 nudged higher in afternoon trading after swinging between gains and losses all day, as some better-than-expected US economic data boosted equities stateside. Lifting sentiment late on was the Conference Board's consumer confidence index which rose from a revised 40.9 in October to 56 t
Read moreLondon midday: Modest gains ahead of Osborne speech
29th Nov 2011 12:01
With US stock futures pointing to a positive start on Wall Street, London's FTSE 100 index reversed its earlier losses to trade modestly in the blue by midday on Tuesday. All eyes have turned to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ALL EYES ON GEORGE George Osborne is to make his Autumn statement at
Read moreLondon midday: Eurozone hopes boost banks
28th Nov 2011 12:18
Stocks markets across Europe are racing ahead and London is no exception, with the top-share index now back above the level it closed at on Monday night. Banks are prominent among the best performers, buoyed by suggestions that progress is being made on the souped-up version of the European Financ
Read moreBroker tips: Standard Chartered, Thomas Cook, Mitchells & Butlers
22nd Nov 2011 12:50
Following their attendance at a set of recent company presentations, analysts at Nomura were writing today that, "Overall, we came back from the trip thinking Standard Chartered´s (STAN) target of double-digit revenue growth for 2011 and beyond is achievable." More specifically, they cite the bank´
Read moreBroker snap: Robust growth Outlook for STAN, Nomura reiterates buy
22nd Nov 2011 12:19
Following their attendance at a set of recent company presentations, analysts at Nomura are writing today that, "Overall, we came back from the trip thinking Standard Chartered´s (STAN) target of double-digit revenue growth for 2011 and beyond is achievable." More specifically, they cite the bank´s
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
22nd Nov 2011 09:34
British Land: Bank of America-Merrill Lynch upgrades to buy from neutral. Centrica: Goldman Sachs keeps at Conviction Buy. Smith&Nephew: Citi cuts target to 492p from 507p, keeps at sell. Smith&Nephew: Citi reiterates neutral. Thomas Cook: Evolution Securities downgrades from neutral to sell, t
Read moreFriday broker round-up - UPDATE
18th Nov 2011 09:42
Pennon: Deutsche Bank upgrades to buy from hold. Capita: Peel Hunt reiterates buy and 850p target. Capita: Investec slashes target to 630p from 725p, hold maintained. Chemring: finnCap downgrades from buy to hold, target slashes from 780p to 480p. ICAP: UBS cuts target from 380p to 328p, sell ra
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
15th Nov 2011 09:55
Lonmin: Goldman Sachs downgrades to sell from neutral. Antofagasta: Evolution Securities upgrades from sell to neutral, target cut from 1,200p to 1,110p. Standard Chartered: Evolution Securities maintains neutral rating and 1,800p target. Burberry: Merchant Securities keeps buy rating. Burberry:
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Smith & Nephew, ITV lead the risers
14th Nov 2011 13:56
Medical equipment manufacturer Smith & Nephew was the high riser helped by Exane BNP Paribas which upped its recommendation on the stock from neutral to outperform. ITV, Britain's biggest private terrestrial broadcaster, was heading north after reporting a 4% rise in revenues in the nine months to
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: EFSF, Interserve, Iraq, L&G, StanChart
13th Nov 2011 15:35
The Ministry of Defence will this week award contracts worth up to £420m to Interserve to maintain four overseas military bases. The group will provide electrical, mechanical and building services for bases in Cyprus, Ascension Island, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, where Prince William is to s
Read moreDouble director sale at Monitise
8th Nov 2011 13:56
Two of the most senior directors of Footsie AIM 50 listed firm Monitise have sold shares in the firm just one week after stock broker Evolution Securities lifted its target on the stock to 45p. Chief executive officer and co-founder of the mobile payments firm Alastair Lukies and chief commercial
Read moreBroker tips: Next, Standard Chartered, Logica
2nd Nov 2011 11:55
Prime Markets reiterated its buy rating on Next following the retailer's third quarter statement, saying that the firm has delivered an "exceptional performance in a challenging year". Prime Markets' head of dealing Richard Curr said, "Evergreen retailer and sector bellwether Next has delivered an
Read moreBroker snap: Evolutions downgrades Standard Chartered to neutral
2nd Nov 2011 10:38
Evolution Securities has downgraded banking giant Standard Chartered from buy to neutral, highlighting the stock's recent strong performance and continuing headwinds. Evolution notes that Standard Chartered's shares are up around 23% in just four weeks, while Lloyds has actually fallen. In the bro
Read moreUPDATE: Wednesday broker round-up
2nd Nov 2011 09:51
G4S: Credit Suisse upgrades from neutral to outperform, target raised from 240p to 285p. Standard Chartered: Evolution Securities downgrades from buy to neutral, target unchanged at 1,800p. Standard Chartered: Nomura maintains buy rating and 1,800p target. Next: Investec places 2,350p target unde
Read moreStandard Chartered avoids Europe melt down
2nd Nov 2011 07:53
Standard Chartered, the number two UK bank by market value, has seen revenues for the first nine months of 2011 grow by "a high single digit percentage". Forgive the lack of precision but Standard Chartered, unlike its peers, does not provide exact figures for the third quarter. We do know the bank
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