Broker tips: Kingfisher, Man Group, Topps Tiles
1st Jun 2011 12:54
Matrix has hiked up its target price for B&Q owner Kingfisher ahead of its first quarter results, seeing more upside to come despite the recent share price run. Analyst Tom Gadsby says that the 31 ex-Focus stores acquired by Kingfisher in early May would add 2% to B&Q sales, "offsetting the headwin
Read moreBroker snap: Current trading weak for Topps Tiles
1st Jun 2011 12:36
While Topps Tiles' interim results were broadly in line, finnCap has reduced its forecasts full-year forecasts after factoring in weaker-than-expected current trading. Topps registered a half-year pre-tax profit of £7.2m, just under the £7.4m the broker estimated. However, the 'miss' came at the ea
Read moreTopps Tiles hails sales rise
1st Jun 2011 10:30
Tile and flooring group Topps Tiles posted a slight rise in revenues in the half year to 2 April, a "robust performance" but one that reflects continuing consumer caution, according to the company. Total revenues came in at £89.2m, a 1.5% increase from the same period the previous year. On a like-
Read moreBroker snap: Topps Tiles still a 'buy' after reduced forecasts
31st Mar 2011 12:26
Even after a reduction in forecasts at tile and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles, finnCap says that the shares appear inexpensive for a market-leading retailer that still retains some growth potential. "We have reduced our forecasts more in response to our expectations of sustained weakness in co
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Domino's Pizza, Topps Tiles, Charles Taylor
31st Mar 2011 06:31
Domino's Pizza's trading statement yesterday showed sales up 4.2% in the first quarter, itself a fall on the 4.7% in the first seven weeks of the year. Analysts think this year's figure might struggle to beat 3%. Such growth suggests a more sensible trading multiple, and the shares are on about 22
Read moreLondon close: Retailers and banks pull London to dull finish
30th Mar 2011 17:38
Footsie came off its highs for the day, as retailers and banks did their best to drag the market lower. Nevertheless, the blue chip index finished 16 higher at 5,948. Invensys was sharply lower after RBC Capital Markets initiated coverage of the engineer with an "underperform" rating. That was the
Read moreSector movers: Dixons drags retailers lower
30th Mar 2011 16:17
PC World and Currys owner Dixons Retail has seen its share price drop by almost a fifth, dragging the general retailing sector lower. The group's full-year profits will be down from last year, as consumer confidence in Britain and elsewhere continues to deteriorate, the electrical retailer said.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Invensys bid fever fades
30th Mar 2011 14:39
Stocks came off the top over the lunch time session, though risers still comfortably outnumber fallers among Footsie constituents by at least two to one. Miners are setting the pace, particularly Vedanta, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta. At the other end of the scale Invensys is sharply lo
Read moreTopps Tiles growth wanes
30th Mar 2011 07:25
Sales growth has slowed at tile and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles during the latter stages of the first half. Like for like sales rose about 1.8% in the 26 weeks to 2 April, down from 2% last year. They were up 3.2% for the first seven weeks, 2.2% for the 13-week period, and up an estimated 1.
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Arm, Computacenter, RSA...
12th Jan 2011 06:59
The roster of ARM-based devices is, quite simply, astonishing. Name a fancy gizmo and chances are that it draws upon ARM's know-how in one way or another. iPads, iPhones, the Blackberry Bold - all feature ARM technology. The other day, Microsoft said it was going to launch a new version of Windows
Read moreTopps Tiles hit by snow
11th Jan 2011 07:28
Tile and flooring retailer Topps Tiles' sales were hit by the recent artic weather but still held up in decent shape. In the 13 weeks since the start of October, total revenues increased by 1.8% with like-for-like revenues up by 2.2%. All of that growth, though, was before the cold set in. In the
Read moreLondon close: Late blow for Footsie
30th Nov 2010 16:28
Blue chips climbed out of the red late afternoon as losses across the Atlantic narrowed, but a late sell-off took the leading index back into negative territory and a new two-month low. A better than expected read on US consumer confidence helped trim the deficit on Wall Street, although fears abou
Read moreLondon afternoon: Vedanta falls after yanking flotation
30th Nov 2010 15:02
Though the majority of its constituents are lower, the FTSE 100 index is little changed on the day. Financials remain unnerved by worries over the future of the eurozone but otherwise the picture remains mixed, as it has been for most of the day. In a mixed mining sector Vedanta heads lower after i
Read moreLondon midday: Shares hesitant as nervousness continues
30th Nov 2010 12:05
Shares are still seeking direction having given up their early lead amid nervousness over the European debt situation. The US could provide a lead. Investors are gearing up for a report on US consumer sentiment at 3pm UK time and the S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values, due out an hour earlie
Read moreLondon open: Modest early gains
30th Nov 2010 08:52
Footsie has recovered some of yesterday's losses in early dealings after Wall Street perked up near the end of the US trading day. Trading is subdued even so, with travelling disrupted by the weather and little company news about. Miners African Barrick and Rio Tinto are still in demand after yest
Read more