Sector movers: Standard Life boosts insurance sector
14th Aug 2012 16:38
Life assurance giant Standard Life jumped on Tuesday, giving a big lift to the life insurance sector, which was at the top of the pile in afternoon trade. Standard Life saw profits rise in the first half after a strong performance in the UK, its biggest market. Operating profit before tax was up 15
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Life soars as profit leaps
14th Aug 2012 14:53
Life assurance behemoth Standard Life leapt into the top spot after it saw profits rise in the first half after a strong performance in the UK, its biggest market. Operating profit before tax was up 15 per cent with assets under administration three per cent higher than the year before. United Uti
Read moreSevern Trent plans to drop Analytical Services business
8th Aug 2012 10:41
Severn Trent, the water company focused on the Midlands and mid-Wales, has unveiled plans to sell its Analytical Services business. The firm said the business has over recent months become smaller and predominantly commercial-customer focused. It is anticipated that the sale will address a number
Read moreThursday broker round-up
2nd Aug 2012 10:00
Aggreko: Investec keeps buy rating and 2,520p target. Antofagasta: UBS lifts tagged from 850p to 870p, sell rating unchanged. BAE Systems: Investec maintains hold rating and 290p target. Drax: AlphaValue downgrades to reduce. ENRC: UBS cuts tagged from 640p to 615p, buy rating maintained. Filtr
Read moreFriday broker round-up
20th Jul 2012 10:17
Capita: UBS ups target from 725p to 740p, buy rating unchanged. Euromoney: Peel Hunt downgrades to hold. Gulf Keystone: HSBC upgrades to overweight. Halfords: UBS cuts target from 240p to 205p, neutral rating kept; HB Markets upgrades to buy. Hammerson: Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgrades t
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
18th Jul 2012 09:21
Ashmore: Goldman Sachs upgrades to buy. Ashtead: Jefferies reiterates buy rating and 320p target. Booker: Investec maintains buy rating and 98p target. British Land: BarCap downgrades to equal weight. Capital Shopping Centres: BarCap upgrades to overweight. Chariot Oil & Gas: Merchant Securitie
Read moreBad debts hold steady at Severn Trent as prices rise
18th Jul 2012 07:23
Severn Trent, the water company focused on the Midlands and mid-Wales, says performance for the period since the beginning of April has been in line with expectations". The price customers are paying for water increased by 5.2% from April 1st but consumption is declining. Bad debts of people unabl
Read moreMonday broker round-up
9th Jul 2012 08:13
BAE Systems: Jefferies reiterates buy recommendation and 350p target. Britvic: Societe General cuts target from 450p to 400p, buy rating unchanged. Filtrona: Citigroup downgrades to neutral, target lifted from 470p to 515p. Genel Energy: Oriel Securities initiates with buy recommendation. Halfor
Read moreLondon close: US jobs data sinks stocks
6th Jul 2012 16:41
- US non-farm payrolls disappoint - Miners drag the Footsie lower - IMF to cut global GDP forecast After treading water for the morning session, the Footsie dropped in afternoon trade after a disappointing employment report from the US dampened the outlook for the global economy. The US Labor Depa
Read moreLondon close: Global stocks surge after EU agreements
29th Jun 2012 16:30
- Major breakthrough at EU summit - Equity markets rocket across the globe - Another banking scandal hits Barclays London blue chips rallied on Friday on the back of developments at the EU summit overnight, as analysts hailed the agreements as a major breakthrough. The agreements include: the Euro
Read moreBroker tips: Water stocks, M and S, Vodafone
29th Jun 2012 12:36
UK water stocks - United Utilities, Pennon and Severn Trent - are in 'a sweet spot in current markets', according to UBS which says they provide safe returns and consistent outperformance. "We believe that the UK water companies will remain in a sweet spot for as long as the current lacklustre macr
Read moreFriday broker round-up
29th Jun 2012 09:13
Barclays: Oriel Securities downgrades to hold, target cut from 285p to 200p. Barratt Developments: JPMorgan Cazenove downgrades to neutral, target raised from 135p to 155p. BG Group: UBS cuts target from 1,785p to 1,730p. Corin: N+1 Brewin upgrades to add. Debenhams: HB Markets downgrades to sel
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks dragging index lower
28th Jun 2012 15:07
Shares in Barclays were under heavy selling pressure after the banking group was found guilty of 'market manipulation' into interbank lending rates, prompting calls for the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Bob Diamond. Several other banks, including HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Llo
Read moreSevern Trent forms joint venture with Costain
28th Jun 2012 07:23
FTSE 100 water firm Severn Trent and engineering company Costain have announced a joint venture to provide business water and wastewater management services to high volume commercial users. The new entity, Severn Trent Costain, will offer large multi-site water users a single expert supplier for al
Read moreLondon close: Eurozone uncertainties fuel risk aversion
25th Jun 2012 16:43
- Cautious mood ahead of EU summit - Spain officially asks for EU aid - Shire finishes down 11 per cent on generic competition issues Mining stocks were dragging London's FTSE 100 sharply lower on Monday, as investors sold off 'riskier' assets. However, it was Shire that finished the day as the wor
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