FTSE 100 movers: IAG flying high on hopeful Aer Lingus bid, Supermarkets lower on dividend concerns
26th Jan 2015 14:34
IAG, owner of British Airways, climbed after Irish carrier Aer Lingus confirmed it has received a third takeover bid from its Anglo-Spanish rival. IAG has offered Aer Lingus €2.50 a share in cash plus a dividend of €0.05 a share, up from the previous pitch of €2.40 in cash and €2.30 before that.
Read moreBig four supermarkets will cut small brands and back big names, says Premier Foods CEO
23rd Jan 2015 11:42
Premier Foods, of Mr Kipling cake fame, is about to win more shelf space in the battle of the 'big four' supermarkets, according to chief executive Gavin Darby. The larger supermarket chains will cut costs by reducing their product range, Darby suggested, giving better-known brands staying power whi
Read moreTuesday's newspaper round-up: William Hill results glitch, Leahy talks...
20th Jan 2015 05:14
William Hill was forced to release its latest trading statement 11 hours earlier than planned after an administrative error, The Telegraph reported. According to the paper, the bookmaker officially sent out the figures, which showed that profits fell 7% in the fourth quarter, at 8pm on Monday, after
Read moreLondon close: UK stocks settle at 2015 high as market awaits ECB decision
19th Jan 2015 16:32
London's FTSE 100 eked out a gain of 0.5% on Monday in the absence of US trading, as investors took advantage of a quiet news day to push stocks to their highest levels of the year The Footsie finished 35.26 points higher at 6,585.53, its best finish since 29 December 2014 when it settled at 6,633.5
Read moreBroker tips: Tesco, Tullow Oil, Greene King, KAZ Minerals
19th Jan 2015 14:18
Supermarket operator Tesco has scope to materially improve its UK operations, according to Morgan Stanley which upgraded the stock from 'equalweight' to 'overweight' and hiked its target price from 155p to 260p. Together with moves to optimise its portfolio, that should drive the shares to outperfor
Read moreCharles Stanley picks holes in Morgan Stanley's Tesco 'buy' note
19th Jan 2015 13:04
Analyst Garry White at UK broker Charles Stanley has picked a few holes in the arguments behind Morgan Stanley's promotion of Tesco onto its best ideas list. White agrees that the main problem in determining Tesco's valuation is the fact that we do not know where its margins will ultimately settle,
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks trim gains as miners decline
19th Jan 2015 12:17
UK stocks had pared gains and were trading more or less flat by Monday lunchtime as investors showed caution ahead of a busy week. London's FTSE 100 was up just 0.1% at 6,558 by noon, having pulled back after reaching an intra-day high of 6,589.20 early on as mining stocks extended losses. Monday's
Read moreMorgan Stanley hikes price target on Tesco, shares snap higher
19th Jan 2015 09:10
Supermarket operator Tesco has scope to materially improve its UK operations. Together with moves to optimise its portfolio, that should drive the shares to outperform over the next 12 months, Morgan Stanley analyst Edouard Aubin told investors on Monday morning. In particular, the broker highlight
Read moreTesco's credit rating downgraded to 'junk' by S&P
14th Jan 2015 15:49
Standard & Poor's has followed in the footsteps of fellow ratings agency Moody's as it downgraded its rating on Tesco's debt to the equivalent of 'junk'. S&P Ratings Services said on Wednesday that it had lowered its long-term corporate credit rating on the UK supermarket chain from 'BBB-' to 'BB+',
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners plummet as copper hits five-year low, oil companies continue south
14th Jan 2015 13:52
Mining stocks fell across the board though those exposed to the copper sector were hit the hardest after copper prices fell to five and a half year lows to $5,353.25 a metric ton. Antofagasta and Anglo American fared badly, but Glencore fared the worst, falling over 11% to a new record low. On
Read moreTesco facing 'challenges' as closures extend into Europe, says ShoreCap
14th Jan 2015 09:28
Shore Capital has warned about a "myriad of challenges" for supermarket group Tesco after it emerged that the company's store-pruning strategy has reached central Europe. After Tesco announced last week that it would be closing 43 stores in the UK, it has been reported that a further 13 outlets are
Read moreSector movers: Morrisons, Greggs and ASOS lead retailers higher
13th Jan 2015 14:56
The exit of frontman Dalton Philips at Wm Morrison and signs of improving sales trends at the UK grocer were welcomed by the market on Tuesday, with food retailers topping the risers list in London. Well-received trading updates from the likes of Greggs also provided a boost to the food sector, whil
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Morrison boosted after axing CEO as grocers dominate risers
13th Jan 2015 13:46
The share price of supermarket group Wm Morrison jumped 5% on Tuesday following the news that chief executive Dalton Philips has been axed after the company delivered the worst Christmas performance of the Big Four. Like-for-like (LFL) sales excluding fuel fell 3.1% in the six weeks to 4 January.
Read moreLondon open: Retailers boost market ahead of inflation data, Morrison jumps
13th Jan 2015 08:57
Well-received updates from a host of retailers were giving UK stock markets a boost on Tuesday morning, as investors awaited some key inflation data. The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,514 early on with Wm Morrison leading the rise. Data due out at 09:30 is forecast to show that the annual rate of consu
Read moreSunday share tips: Amec, Tesco, Churchill China
11th Jan 2015 19:47
Sell shares of Amec, Danny Fortson advised in the Sunday Times. A year ago the oil services company paid £2bn in cash and shares for Swiss-listed rival Foster Wheeler. Its other option was to hand cash back to shareholders. Since then the oil price has halved, shale producers have cut spending and R
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