Unilever delivers underlying growth despite tough markets
25th Jul 2013 07:23
Consumer products giant Unilever delivered robust growth in underlying sales in the first half and improved margins despite admitting that the economic environment remains tough. "This set of results clearly demonstrates that the transformation of Unilever to a sustainable growth company is fully
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rally after Bernanke comments on QE
17th Jul 2013 16:58
Markets rallied on Wednesday afternoon following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who said that quantitative easing (QE) is 'by no means on a pre-set course' and still depends on how the economic recovery plays out. "For markets, that's good news as the US economic recovery, thou
Read moreLondon midday: Unanimous MPC vote on QE takes markets by surprise
17th Jul 2013 11:53
Minutes from this month's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting took markets by surprise on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 slipping into the red after it was revealed that policymakers voted unanimously to leave the Bank of England's (BoE) bond-buying programme unchanged. Investors were lar
Read moreBroker tips: Smiths Group, Unilever, RSA
17th Jul 2013 11:22
Investec has reiterated its 'buy' rating and 1,500p target price for Smiths Group despite the technology firm surprising the market with a profit warning on Wednesday, with the broker saying that its positive outlook on the stock remains unchanged. "Although this update is negative, it does not fun
Read moreBroker snap: Credit Suisse downgrades Unilever on premium valuation
17th Jul 2013 11:18
Credit Suisse has cut its rating for cosmetics, foods and household products giant Unilever from 'neutral' to 'underperform', saying that the stock has become one of the more expensive consumer staples. The broker said that the company has "come a long way" after restoring growth, stabilising and i
Read moreLondon open: Miners, financials gain ahead of BoE minutes
17th Jul 2013 08:30
Markets edged higher on Wednesday morning with strong gains in the mining and financial sectors providing a lift ahead of key announcements from central banks in the UK and US. The minutes of the latest Bank of England policy meeting are due out this morning with investors waiting to hear what Mark
Read moreLondon midday: Bernanke comments drive gains on FTSE 100
11th Jul 2013 11:35
A strong performance in the mining sector ensured that the FTSE 100 was trading firmly in positive territory on Thursday after dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sparked gains in commodity prices. "After June's sell-off in risk assets was attributed to seemingly hawkish comm
Read moreUnilever increases Unilever Hindustan stake
11th Jul 2013 07:15
Unilever has increased its stake in Hindustan Unilever to more than two-thirds of the company in a deal valued at about INR 191.74bn (2.13bn pounds). The consumer goods giant said it had accepted shares worth 14.78% of the Indian company, taking its stake to 67.26%. Hindustan Unilever sells brands
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Jun 2013 08:32
BAE Systems: Deutsche Bank increases target price from 375p to 400p, while downgrading to hold. Barclays: Bank of America moves target price from 430p to 410p, while its buy recommendation remains unaltered. Booker Group: Investec shifts target price from 140p to 141p and keeps its buy recommendat
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
27th Jun 2013 07:36
Antofagasta: Investec cuts target price from 892p to 691p downgrading from reduce to sell. Black Mountain Resources: Westhouse Securities shifts target price from 23p to 17p, while its buy recommendation remains unaltered. Bunzl: Numis upgrades to buy with a target price of 1505p. Capita: Jefferi
Read moreLondon midday: Markets cautious as eyes remain fixed on Fed
19th Jun 2013 12:01
A decline in risk appetite meant that UK markets were in the red on Wednesday morning ahead of the all-important policy decision from the Federal Reserve due out later this evening. "Attention is firmly on the Fed's monetary policy decision and press conference later, with investors clearly concern
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Jun 2013 07:01
African Barrick Gold: Citi moves target price from 175p to 124p and maintains a sell recommendation. ASOS: Nomura raises target price from 2970p to 3400p keeping a neutral rating. Exane increases target price from 4200p to 5000p and retains its outperform rating. Citi ups target price from 4400p to
Read moreUnilever director builds stake
20th May 2013 16:30
Ann Fudge, a non-executive director of consumer goods company Unilever has purchased 1,350 American depository receipts, each of which represents one ordinary share. The shares were bought at 2,843.50p each for £38,387 in total. At the end of last month the Anglo-Dutch group admitted that grwoth
Read moreUnilever seeks to increase stake in Hindustan Unilever
30th Apr 2013 07:45
Consumer goods company Unilever has put in an offer to increase its stake in its Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Unilever. The group is seeking to increase its interest from 52.48% to 75% for a price of 600 Indian Rupees per share for the arm which sells food, beverages, cleaning agents and personal c
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
26th Apr 2013 07:24
Admiral Group: HB Markets initiates with a buy recommendation. AstraZeneca: Deutsche Bank takes target price from 3100p to 3160p and leaves its hold recommendation unchanged. Avon Rubber: Investec upgrades from hold to add with a target price of 420p. Betfair Group: Citigroup raises target price
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