Thursday broker round-up UPDATE

23rd Jan 2014 09:12

Afren: Investec ups target price from 170p to 200p and maintains a buy recommendation. AG Barr: Investec raises target price from 585p to 620p retaining an add rating. Canaccord Genuity ups target price from 630p to 650p and keeps a buy recommendation. Arbuthnot: Numis downgrades from add to hold

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Broker snap: Morgan Stanley upgrades United Utilities ahead of Ofwat pricing review

16th Jan 2014 09:09

Morgan Stanley has raised its rating for United Utilities as part of its review into the UK water sector ahead of the Ofwat regulatory price review that will set prices for 2015-20. "The 2014 regulatory review will clearly be tough but this is surely well known," the US bank said in a research repo

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Thursday broker round-up UPDATE

16th Jan 2014 08:59

Aberdeen Asset Management: Canaccord Genuity cuts target price from 586p to 540p, while its buy recommendation remains unchanged. Anglo American: UBS ups target price from 1500p to 1580p upgrading from neutral to buy. Antofagasta: Investec reduces target price from 716p to 685p maintaining a sell

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FTSE 100 movers: RSA rises on confidence ahead of investigation result

8th Jan 2014 16:01

RSA Insurance climbed strongly ahead of receiving the results of an independent investigation after it reiterated its confidence that the recent financial irregularities are isolated to its Irish business. The results are due to be announced tomorrow. Banking stocks were extending yesterday's gain

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London midday: Markets fall as Sainsbury leads retailers lower

8th Jan 2014 11:30

- Updates from Sainsbury, Mothercare, Majestic fail to impress - Eurozone retail sales, German factory orders beat forecasts - US data, central banks in focus over coming days techMARK 2,783.91 -0.20% FTSE 100 6,725.52 -0.44% FTSE 250 16,043.77 -0.16% The FTSE 100 pulled back from a two-month high

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London close: UK markets hit two-month high as banks gain

7th Jan 2014 16:24

- FTSE 100 at highest level since November 4th - Eurozone inflation ramps up interest-rate speculation - Banks helped by funding data - IAG reports strong December traffic figures techMARK 2,789.43 -0.10% FTSE 100 6,755.45 +0.37% FTSE 250 16,069.19 +0.12% UK markets finished with decent gains on

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FTSE 100 movers: Banks rise on BoE Liabilities Survey

7th Jan 2014 15:53

Ian Gordon at Investec attributed the rally in Lloyds' share price to the Bank of England's Liabilities Survey. He said: "It's not that it contains surprising news, but de facto confirmation of improving capital metrics, improving retail deposits and (significant) declines in funding volumes/requir

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Broker snap: JP Morgan waters down Severn Trent rating

7th Jan 2014 12:51

After tough talk by the water regulator about the upcoming regulatory review period, JP Morgan has issued a cautionary note on the UK water companies, saying the chance of mergers and acquisitions is now less likely this year. "We believe that Ofwat's decision to alter the price review timetable

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London midday: Stocks gain, ECB in focus as inflation eases

7th Jan 2014 11:31

- Eurozone inflation eases to 0.8 per cent - ECB in focus ahead of meeting on Thursday - Banks lift Footsie into positive territory techMARK 2,796.28 +0.14% FTSE 100 6,761.20 +0.45% FTSE 250 16,076.04 +0.17% After a slow start, markets pushed into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime as an unex

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London open: Markets flat as investors await Eurozone CPI

7th Jan 2014 08:18

- Eurozone CPI data in focus ahead of ECB meeting - US jobs report to be closely watched - Jefferies lifts Ashtead, ITV and BSkyB early on - Dunelm falls after Q2 sales update techMARK 2,791.39 -0.03% FTSE 100 6,728.37 -0.04% FTSE 250 16,030.92 -0.11% UK markets opened flat once again on Tuesday m

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London close: Stocks fall one per cent on earnings, taper fears

12th Dec 2013 16:39

- Perform plummets after profit warning - Sports Direct and Wood Group fall sharply after results - Taper bets increase ahead of Fed meeting, US data in focus - FTSE 100 at lowest level since mid-October techMARK 2,652.61 -0.83% FTSE 100 6,445.25 -0.96% FTSE 250 15,211.54 -1.20% The FTSE 100 finis

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Sector movers: Defensive utilities gain amid wider market weakness

12th Dec 2013 15:25

The utilities industry was the only sector trading in positive territory on Thursday as investors turned to defensive assets amid a wider market sell-off. London's FTSE 100 was trading as much as 1% lower during today's session as investors scaled back their risk appetite ahead of a potential taper

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FTSE 100 movers: Sports Direct dives in spite of leap in H1 profit

12th Dec 2013 15:17

Sportswear and equipment retailer Sports Direct slumped today despite delivering a near-17 per cent jump in underlying profits during its first half, driven by an increase in online and international sales. However, the company did say that '[current] trading has now reverted to management's origina

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London open: Markets flat on budget deal, taper speculation

11th Dec 2013 08:28

- US negotiators reach budget deal - Taper speculation ramps up ahead of Fed meeting - Imagination disappoints with poor H2 outlook - RBS Finance Director Bostock steps down techMARK 2,678.82 +0.23% FTSE 100 6,524.52 +0.02% FTSE 250 15,401.84 -0.06% Markets opened broadly flat on Wednesday in the

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London open: FTSE creeps higher, driven by Sage Group

4th Dec 2013 08:41

- FTSE edges higher - Focus on Friday's US jobs report - Sage races ahead techMARK 2,652.09 +0.44% FTSE 100 6,528.83 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,158.24 +0.03% The FTSE inched higher in early trading, as expected, ignoring declines in both the US and Asia as Sage Group drove the top tier index higher with

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