London close: Markets in 'wait-and-see' mode as shutdown continues
4th Oct 2013 16:46
After fluctuating between gains and losses for most of the day, the FTSE 100 finished broadly flat on Friday as stocks struggled for direction. In the absence of economic news and ongoing political uncertainty in the States, markets remain in "wait-and-see mode", according Senior Market Analyst Mic
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Life leads financials higher
4th Oct 2013 15:24
Financials were performing relatively well today with insurers Standard Life, Prudential, Resolution and RSA moving higher, along with banking groups HSBC and RBS. Standard Life was boosted by JP Morgan, which reiterated its 'overweight' rating on the stock, and commented that growth continued to
Read moreBroker tips: Barclays, GlaxoSmithKline, Tate & Lyle
4th Oct 2013 12:24
Investec has raised its recommendation for banking group Barclays from 'add' to 'buy' and retained its 300p target price despite what is expected to be a 'lacklustre' third-quarter report on October 30th. Analyst Ian Gordon said that the upgrade is due to a combination of: passing rights issues-rel
Read moreLondon midday: UK markets lack direction as US budget impasse persists
4th Oct 2013 11:31
After a slow start, the FTSE 100 had erased losses by midday on Friday but markets remain subdued as stocks struggle for direction in the absence of economic news and ongoing political uncertainty in the States. Since the partial shutdown of the US government has extended into its fourth day, gove
Read moreBroker snap: Jefferies cuts Tate & Lyle target on sucralose pricing
4th Oct 2013 09:50
Jefferies has cut its target price for Tate & Lyle from 980p to 900p after a mixed second-quarter trading update from the sweeteners and ingredients firm on Friday. Group trading was said to be "broadly in line" with management expectations in the three months to September 30th, although adjusted o
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
4th Oct 2013 09:32
Aberdeen Asset Management: JP Morgan lowers target price from 523p to 509p maintaining an overweight rating. Admiral Group: Canaccord Genuity cuts target price from 1200p to 1160p retaining its sell recommendation. API Group: Numis downgrades to add with a target price of 85p. Arbuthnot Banking G
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as US shutdown continues
4th Oct 2013 08:36
Markets look to end the week on a quiet note with stocks lacking direction in the absence of the all-important US jobs report; the FTSE 100 fell slightly in the red on Friday morning. Since the partial shutdown of the US government has extended into its fourth day, governmental agencies and departm
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to track US markets lower
4th Oct 2013 07:35
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 20 points lower than yesterday's close of 6,449.04, tracking US markets which finished around one per cent lower on Thursday as the government shutdown entered its third day. Markets are hoping that Congress will agree to raise the $16.7tn debt li
Read moreTate & Lyle profits down in second quarter due to US softness
4th Oct 2013 07:14
Sweeteners and food ingredients group Tate & Lyle said that adjusted operating profits in the second quarter were in line with expectations but slightly below last year due to softness in the US beverage sector. The company said this was as a result of the cold spring and slow start to the summer
Read moreFriday preview: Tate & Lyle to report half-year results
3rd Oct 2013 14:39
British multinational agribusiness Tate & Lyle will on Friday issue a trading update for the half year to end of September. Ahead of the FTSE 100 company's results, Investec said it was facing headwinds in the form of adverse foreign exchange movements and trouble in Mexico. Tate, which provides s
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
3rd Oct 2013 08:21
Alternative Networks: Westhouse Securities downgrades to neutral with a target price of 350p. ARM Holdings: Credit Suisse moves target price from 1030p to 1050p and reiterates an outperform rating. Burberry Group: JP Morgan raises target price from 1450p to 1550p reiterating a neutral rating. Car
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks take a hit
2nd Oct 2013 14:45
Coca-Cola HBC continued to slide lower to become the biggest faller this afternoon. However, much of the focus was on supermarket giant Tesco today as it registered steep losses after disappointing the market with its interim results. Half-year underlying pre-tax profit fell 7.4% to £1.4bn as an i
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
27th Sep 2013 08:48
Admiral Group: Berenberg ups target price from 1060p to 1080p, but still recommends selling. Amlin: Berenberg reduces target price from 422p to 398p and downgrades to sell. Atkins (WS): JP Morgan increases target price from 1298p to 1348p and maintains an overweight rating. AZ Electronic Material
Read moreLondon close: Stocks hit by Bullard comments as post-Fed rally fades
20th Sep 2013 16:39
The exuberant post-Fed mood quickly faded on Friday with comments from one US policymaker dampening stocks before the close of trade. Risk appetite was also scaled back as caution set in ahead of the German elections at the weekend with the outcome still highly uncertain. The FTSE 100 finished 28.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tate & Lyle hit by Credit Suisse rating cut
20th Sep 2013 15:02
Shares in food and sweeteners manufacturer Tate & Lyle were falling heavily on Friday after the stock's rating was cut by Credit Suisse from 'outperform' to 'neutral'. The bank said its greatest concern is a proposal in Mexico to tax soft drinks which would reduce demand the group's high-fructose
Read more