London midday: Vodafone leads UK markets higher, but resource stocks weigh
11th Nov 2014 11:34
Strong gains from Vodafone and a string of property companies pushed UK shares into positive territory on Tuesday, though weakness in the resource sectors was limiting upside as the stock market fluctuated at a six-week high. The FTSE 100 was up just 0.1% at 6,618 by midday, having pulled back sligh
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
6th Nov 2014 10:01
Amec: UBS cuts target price from 1185p to 1150p, while its buy recommendation remains unchanged. Afren: Liberum Capital cuts target price from 121p to 95p and stays with its hold recommendation. Antofagasta: Canaccord cuts target price from 790p to 760p and reiterates a hold recommendation. Associ
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks jump despite weak services data, M&S and Meggitt surge
5th Nov 2014 11:52
Strong gains from Marks & Spencer, Meggitt and Associated British Foods drove the UK stock market higher on Wednesday, as investors shrugged off some disappointing global economic data. Services purchasing managers' indices (PMIs) in China, the UK and Eurozone all weakened, showing that activity gro
Read moreLondon open: M&S, Meggitt lead UK stocks higher early on
5th Nov 2014 09:02
UK stocks rose on Wednesday as decent gains from Marks & Spencer, Meggitt, Tulllow Oil and AB Foods offset falls in the mining sector after yet more weak data from China. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.6% higher at 6,493 in morning trade. With the exception Japan's Nikkei index, Asian markets weaker ov
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to move higher ahead of services PMI readings
5th Nov 2014 07:40
UK markets are set to open on a positive note on Wednesday, despite a generally weak performance from the US and Asia overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 42 points higher than Tuesday's close of 6,453.97. Asian markets, with the notable exception of the Nikkei in Tokyo, de
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Associated British Foods climbs after cheering 'magnificent' year for Primark
4th Nov 2014 16:23
Full-year earnings and dividends from Associated British Foods were up 6% on the prior year despite revenues falling 3%. Shares were higher after the company reported a "magnificent" year for its Primark clothing chain, where operating profits jumped 30%. Cigarette maker Imperial Tobacco gained as i
Read moreSector movers: Oil stocks tank as crude prices drop to three-year low
4th Nov 2014 13:26
Sinking crude prices were pressuring oil producers and oil services stocks lower on Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping to a three-year low. Oil dropped sharply after the world's largest exporter, Saudi Arabia, lowered prices for crude exports to US customers in an attempt to suppor
Read moreBroker tips: Legal & General, Shire, Anglo American...
4th Nov 2014 12:05
Broker Berenberg is advising investors to take cover in Legal & General after the insurer and pension provider doubled its annuity sales target for 2014 despite turbulence caused by a UK government pension shake-up. Berenberg has a 'buy' recommendation on L&G with a 265p price target. Analysts at Sw
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase gains after UK construction data, Eurozone growth forecasts
4th Nov 2014 11:25
A slowdown in UK construction expansion and downgrades to Eurozone growth forecasts hit UK stocks on Tuesday morning, with the FTSE 100 having erased early gains by lunchtime. Well-received results from Imperial Tobacco, Associated British Foods and Legal & General weren't enough to prop up the benc
Read moreOil companies need to rebuild investor confidence, says Barclays
4th Nov 2014 09:45
Oil exploration and production (E&P) companies need to rebuild confidence amongst investors, according to analysts at Barclays, who said depressed oil prices are not wholly to blame for the recent weakness in the oil sector. The bank pointed out that the European E&P sector has under-performed the w
Read moreLondon open: FTSE rises as earnings impress, but oil stocks fall
4th Nov 2014 08:31
The UK stock market opened tentatively on Tuesday, with declines in the energy sector offsetting some well-received results from blue chips Legal & General, Associated British Foods and Imperial Tobacco. The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,503 in early deals. However, upside was being limited by falls fr
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends session with modest gains
30th Oct 2014 16:36
The top tier closed slightly higher on Thursday, as a strong performance by Smith & Nephew was offset by losses amongst the mining sector. The FTSE 100 ended the day 9.68 points higher than on the previous day at 6,463.55. Investors were paying attention to what analysts called an "artificially hig
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smith and Nephew rises after first quarter results
30th Oct 2014 16:14
Medical devices maker Smith & Nephew rose strongly after it posted a 3% increase in both revenue and profit for the third quarter, thanks to an improvement in its emerging and international markets units, recent product launches and investment in the sales force. On an underlying basis, turnover cli
Read moreSector movers: Mining, oil stocks track commodities lower as dollar gains
30th Oct 2014 13:24
Mining and oil stocks took a hit on Thursday as a hawkish statement by the Federal Reserve and better-than-expected US growth bolstered the dollar and dampened commodity prices. Gold dropped to its lowest in three weeks, while silver, platinum and crude prices all declined, as the dollar rose to a t
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
30th Oct 2014 08:36
Afren: Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 130p to 110p retaining its hold recommendation. Antofagasta: JP Morgan lowers target price from 760p to 755p and reiterates a neutral rating. Investec lowers target price from 717p to 704p and keeps a hold recommendation. Balfour Beatty: Jefferies cuts ta
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