Friday tips round-up: Rolls-Royce, Travis Perkins, Laird
31st Jul 2009 06:47
Rolls-Royce's view on the economy is not cheery. "The global trading environment remains very difficult and we believe the recovery is likely to be slow," Sir John Rose, the chief executive, said yesterday as the company published its first-half financial results. But the engine-maker still has pl
Read moreWebb pumps £100k into Autonomy
30th Jul 2009 17:05
Autonomy's non-executive chairman Robert Webb has decided its time to dip in and pick up a stake in the data search software specialist. The shares have tumbled 23% since hitting 1,538p at the end of May, a level not seen since the tech bubble began to burst in 2000. Webb, who only took up his pos
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips surge continues
30th Jul 2009 16:42
Corporate newsflow and resurgent miners sent Footsie to within a whisker of its highest close this year. Investors piled into blue chips after a string of household names reported earnings this morning. Triple-digit gains for the Dow added to the upward momentum in the afternoon. Telecoms giant
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners push Footsie higher
30th Jul 2009 14:48
Corporate news-flow and resurgent miners are driving Footsie higher today, with the benchmark index adding to its gains over the lunch-time session. Telecoms giant BT racked up a double-digit percentage gain in the morning after quarterly figures that were not as bad as feared. EBITDA (earnings b
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie tops 4600
30th Jul 2009 11:54
Footsie has broken through the 4,600 barrier, helped by well received results from index heavyweight BT and strong demand for miners. Telecoms giant BT racked up a double-digit percentage gain in the morning after quarterly figures that were not as bad as feared. EBITDA (earnings before interest, t
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Travis Perkins builds on gains
30th Jul 2009 10:50
Travis Perkins is the best performer in the FTSE 250, adding to recent gains, after the buildings materials supplier posted a 27% drop in half year pre-tax profit but in recent months has has seen evidence that some of its markets are beginning to stabilise. Engineer Charter saw profits slump 62% i
Read moreMarkets stabilising at Travis Perkins
30th Jul 2009 07:35
Building materials supplier Travis Perkins posted a 27% drop in half year pre-tax profit but in recent months has seen evidence that some of its markets are beginning to stabilise. The group that owns Wickes home-improvement stores said pre-tax profit fell to £90.4m in the six months ended from £12
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Compass, Housebuilders
24th Jul 2009 11:55
Friday's quarterly trading update from telecoms giant Vodafone contained nothing worrying enough to persuade Morgan Stanley to changes its favourable stance on the stock. The US bank has maintained its "overweight" recommendation for Vodafone, saying the "valuation thesis remains compelling." "Und
Read moreBroker snap: Housebuilders' rally a 'false dawn'
24th Jul 2009 11:50
KBC Peel Hunt, a long time bear on the housebuilding sector, is once again exhorting its clients to take profits on the housebuilders in the wake of what it regards as "a positive spin" put on housing market figures by property web site Rightmove. "Rightmove has hailed the bottom of the housing mar
Read moreAvanti chairman and non-exec buy
1st Jul 2009 17:22
Avanti Communications chairman John Brackenbury and non-executive director Alan Foster have upped their holding in the satellite operator. Earlier today, Avanti announced it is to raise £31.5m through a placing as it revealed revenues and profits this year will be "significantly" ahead of expectati
Read moreLondon close: Carnival floats higher
19th Jun 2009 17:18
The so-called "triple witching" day, when options, index futures and options on index futures all expire on the same day, passed without the high volatility usually associated with the event. If anything it was a quieter day than usual, with broker comment rather than corporate news flow driving t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie riding high
19th Jun 2009 13:58
London's blue chip index is trading at session highs as investors gear up for a strong start on Wall Street. Insurers remain among the top performers after Deutsche Bank upgraded its price targets for a number of major players in the life assurance sector. Aviva, Friends Provident and Standard L
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie advances on triple witching day
19th Jun 2009 12:12
Footsie looks set to finish a disappointing week on a bright note, an outcome of keen interest to options and futures traders as today is a "triple witching" day when options, index futures and options on index futures all expire on the same day. Insurers lead the advance after Deutsche Bank upgra
Read moreTravis Perkins receives 92.7% rights take-up
12th Jun 2009 12:33
Building materials supplier Travis Perkins said it has received 92.7% take-up for its fully underwritten 7 for 10 rights issue to raise £314m gross and £300m net. The group said it has received valid acceptances in respect of 79.6m new shares, Citigroup Global Markets and HSBC Bank plc, acting as j
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips close lower
28th May 2009 16:51
UK blue chips closed lower despite a bright start on Wall Street with sentiment knocked by poorly received updates from Wolseley and Man Group. Hedge fund manager Man Group was weighed down by disappointing results. "The past financial year saw extraordinary turmoil in financial markets globally wh
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