Shell-BG Group takeover expected to spark M&A fever in oil sector
8th Apr 2015 09:37
Shell's £47bn takeover offer for BG Group not only sent shares in the natural gas outfit soaring on Wednesday, but gave other stocks in the sector a big boost. The deal sparked speculation that it may mark the start of a new round of industry consolidation, not seen since the late 1990s, as business
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Oil stocks higher as Saudi Arabia boosts prices
7th Apr 2015 16:53
Oil stocks were in demand on Tuesday as traders played catch-up with gains in crude futures over the last few days. During the weekend Saudi Arabia increased its official price for Asian oil buyers, which markets interpreted as a sign of improving demand. The battered shares prices of energy and exp
Read moreSector Movers: Mining, oil stocks recover from pre-Easter slump
7th Apr 2015 12:51
Natural resources shares led the London market with mining companies reversing pre-Easter declines in the first day of trading after the festive period. At 15:55 BST on Tuesday, the FTSE 100 was trading up 1.93% or 131.79 points at 6965.25. Mining companies lifted the market, being among the best pe
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
7th Apr 2015 11:59
Antofagasta: Jefferies reiterates buy. GlaxoSmithKline: Credit Suisse reiterates underperform and 1440p target. Micro Focus Intl.: Numis reiterates add and ups target price to 1,310p from 1,240p. Rockhopper Exploration: Canaccord Genuity starts coverage at buy and raises target to 190p from 180p.
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks surge on Fed rate-hike delay speculation
7th Apr 2015 08:42
UK stock markets were doing their best to play catch-up on Tuesday morning as investor risk appetite returned after the four-day weekend. London's FTSE 100 was up 1.15% at 6,911.92 in early trading. The Easter weekend has worked wonders for the markets, with the European indices looking reinvigorat
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Homeserve higher on strong winter trading, oil stocks and miners lower
27th Mar 2015 13:13
Homeserve was trading higher after a reassuring trading statement that revealed trading in its busy winter period had been "good" and in line with its full-year targets. Management was also pleased with levels of customer growth across the international businesses, having reported good customer numb
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: IPF higher on upgrade, oil stocks and miners lower
24th Mar 2015 14:15
Shares in International Personal Finance shot up after Berenberg Bank upgraded its rating on the stock to 'buy' from 'hold'. "While FX and regulatory fears are weighing on the shares, IPF is exposed to significant long-term growth opportunities," said Berenberg. Hospital group Spire Healthcare saw i
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 books new all-time highs to close above 7000
20th Mar 2015 16:52
Dovish central banks and fading worries about Greece exiting the Eurozone propelled the London market to record fresh all-time highs on Friday. At Friday's close, the FTSE 100 index stood strong at 7022.51, up 0.8% on the day, off a touch from its session high of 7024.21. "The FTSE 100's landmark m
Read moreFriday broker round-up
20th Mar 2015 15:33
Asos: Citi reiterates neutral. TSB Banking: Numis reiterates hold and 340p target. Aviva: Nomura reiterates buy and lifts target to 690p from 650p. WPP: Morgan Stanley reiterates buy and raises target to 1,625p from 1,400p. Tullow Oil: Barclays reiterates overweight and 550p target. William Hill
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: CRH higher on merger agreement, Next hit by downgrade
20th Mar 2015 12:53
CRH was the biggest gainer on the Footsie after building materials giants Lafarge and Holcim agreed upon terms for a merger. Shares in Tullow Oil surged after the West Africa-focused exploration outfit announced it had successfully negotiated for access to £450m in fresh financing. Morrison was als
Read moreLondon pre-open: CRH and TSB in focus
20th Mar 2015 07:44
The top flight index is being called to start the session higher by between six to seven points on a busy Friday morning in terms of news-flow. Somewhat unexpectedly, overnight Greece agreed to draw up new reforms to meet the requirements of its lenders. "The odds of a Greek exit have risen signifi
Read moreTullow's backers increase their financial committments
20th Mar 2015 07:24
Exploration outfit Tullow Oil has been granted access to increased financing to support its activities on more secure terms from lenders. Lenders' commitments under its six-monthly Reserve Based Lend (RBL) have been increased by $200m, while lenders have committed an additional $250m under the compa
Read moreLondon close: FTSE jumps 1.6% after business-friendly Budget, Fed meeting ahead
18th Mar 2015 16:41
Those expecting little market reaction to the Budget on Wednesday were probably left surprised, with stocks in the energy, financial, housing and consumer staples sectors leading the surge in London following George Osborne's statement. Dovish comments from Bank of England policymakers were also buo
Read moreSector movers: Oil stocks extend gains as Budget confirms North Sea tax breaks
18th Mar 2015 15:07
Confirmation by chancellor George Osborne of budgetary measures to ease the pain in the struggling oil industry gave energy producers and services stocks another big lift on Wednesday. The 2015 Budget, the last of the current parliament, revealed new tax allowances worth £1.3bn in total to stimulate
Read moreLondon close: Energy stocks lift markets ahead of Budget, as investors await Fed
17th Mar 2015 16:32
After dipping into the red around midday, UK stocks rallied into the close with the FTSE 100 finishing 0.5% higher on the back of decent gains in the oil sector ahead of Wednesday's Budget statement. Rumours about potential tax breaks for North Sea oil and gas producers were providing energy stocks
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