Northern Bear chief stake under 2m
2nd Jul 2009 16:36
Support services group Northern Bear said chief executive Graham Forrest raised £150,000 and reduced his stake in the firm to under 2m shares. Forrest disposed of 300,000 shares to a third party at a price of 50p each. He is now interested in 1.98m shares, which represents 10.46% of the group. Top
Read moreBroker tips: Water companies, Carnival, Taylor Wimpey
19th Jun 2009 13:19
Cruise operator Carnival's second quarter trading update yesterday has been generally well received by the investment analyst community, with Evolution, Numis and Charles Stanley all making positive noises. Charles Stanley said the second quarter figures were ahead of prior guidance and market cons
Read moreBroker snap: GS raises price targets of water companies
19th Jun 2009 13:15
Ahead of the five-yearly pricing review by Ofwat, the water industry watchdog, Goldman Sachs has been running the rule over the water companies, with mixed results. The US bank has reduced its price target for Northumbrian Water to 237p from 262p, and has a "sell" recommendation on the stock. It al
Read moreLondon close: Late rally not enough
8th Jun 2009 17:01
Footsie came off its lows towards the close of trading Monday but still finished lower, held back by a weak mining sector. Mining stocks Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo, Lonmin and Antofagasta all featured among the ten worst perfor
Read moreLondon afternoon: Lloyds rump placed at 60p
8th Jun 2009 14:20
Footsie clawed back some losses over the lunch time session but remains in the red, thanks largely to the weakness of miners, which are following metals prices lower. Mining stocks Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo, Lonmin and Antofa
Read moreLondon midday: Miners weigh down Footsie
8th Jun 2009 12:19
London's blue-chip index is doing its usual trick of following the miners, which today are in a down phase. The worst performers in the mining sector are Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo and Antofagasta. Hochschild Mining follows
Read moreLondon pre-open: Heading higher
29th May 2009 07:40
London looks like starting the session in style following last night's three-figure gains on Wall Street, with the blue chip index predicted to rise over 40 points early on. Water company Severn Trent saw profits fall for the year due to increased energy and commodity costs. Profit before tax for
Read moreSevern Trent profits down
29th May 2009 07:15
Water company Severn Trent saw profits fall for the year due to increased energy and commodity costs. Profit before tax for the year fell 12.9% to £167.6m. Underlying profit before interest, tax and exceptionals was flat at £470m affected by increased energy and commodity costs, an increase in inf
Read moreFriday preview: Severn Trent, Blacks Leisure
28th May 2009 16:21
After results from United Utilities today it is the turn of fellow water company Severn Trent to publish its last set of full-year results tomorrow before the draft determination of the Ofwat periodic review of the industry gets published. Market consensus is for pre-tax profit of £278m on turnover
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie drifts into the red
27th May 2009 14:58
London's leading shares are mixed in quiet trading. Hopes of receiving a lift from a strong start on Wall Street have been dashed, with the US market trading indecisively as London as traders await the release of US existing home sales data. Water companies receive a boost ahead of the sector's res
Read moreBroker tips: Water companies, ITV, Johnston Press, Topps Tiles
27th May 2009 12:27
Brokers are queuing up to reappraise the water companies ahead of the sector's results season, which starts this week. After Merrill Lynch weighed in yesterday with downgrades for Pennon and Northumbrian Water, Credit Suisse has dealt another blow to Pennon, chopping its price target from 667p to 6
Read moreLondon midday: Water companies keep Footsie afloat
27th May 2009 12:10
The Footsie is barely keeping its head above water, despite expectations of a moderately firm start on Wall Street. Water companies receive a boost ahead of the sector's results season which starts this week, with Credit Suisse claiming the sector's rally is set to continue. The Swiss bank has upgr
Read moreBroker snap: Rally in water stocks to continue, says CS
27th May 2009 12:08
Brokers are queuing up to reappraise the water utility companies ahead of the sector's results season, which starts this week. After Merrill Lynch weighed in yesterday with downgrades for Pennon and Northumbrian Water, Credit Suisse has dealt another blow to Pennon, chopping its price target from 6
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