London close: Markets underwhelmed by strong growth figures

25th Apr 2013 17:00

UK growth figures prompted a mixed reaction on stock markets on Thursday as stronger-than-expected activity in the first quarter quashed hopes that the Bank of England (BoE) would ramp up its quantitative easing programme in order to kick-start the economy. Nevertheless, data from the States lifted

Read more

FTSE 100 movers: Miners lead the risers

25th Apr 2013 15:23

Mining stocks rose on Thursday on the back of rising metal prices, led by Randgold Resources, Antofagasta, Vedanta, ENRC, and Polymetal. Heading the other way was consumer good group Unilever after it had to rely on robust growth from emerging markets as it grew marginally slower than expectations

Read more

London midday: Stocks fall as GDP data quashes stimulus hopes

25th Apr 2013 11:46

Better-than-expected growth figures from the UK underwhelmed stock markets on Thursday morning, tempering hopes that the Bank of England (BoE) would ease policy to boost the economy. Stocks have risen strongly over the past few days after a number of disappointing economic figures from the Eurozone

Read more

Thursday broker round-up UPDATE

25th Apr 2013 09:07

Barclays: Morgan Stanley lowers target price from 438p to 424p and reiterates an overweight rating. Bellzone Mining: Investec reduces target price from 21p to 5.28p and downgrades to hold. BG Group: Bank of America cuts target price from 1300p to 1250p retaining a neutral rating. Brown (N) Group:

Read more

London open: Stocks rise ahead of UK GDP

25th Apr 2013 08:28

Markets opened strongly on Thursday morning as strength in the mining sector lifted the FTSE 100 higher ahead of the release of UK growth data. British gross domestic product (GDP) is widely expected to have expanded by 0.1% in the first quarter, according to consensus estimates, rebounding after a

Read more

Unilever relying on emerging markets to counter sluggish Europe

25th Apr 2013 07:09

Consumer goods colossus Unilever had to rely on robust growth from emerging markets as it grew marginally slower than expectations in the first quarter. The Anglo-Dutch group grew at an underlying rate of 4.9% in the three months to March 31st, with a contraction in its foods business holding back

Read more

Thursday preview: AstraZeneca and Unilever report

24th Apr 2013 14:48

AstraZeneca and Unilever will take centre stage Thursday when the FTSE 100 companies reveal their first quarter results. Drug giant AstraZeneca is expected to report an earnings per share of $1.41, compared to the group's consensus of $1.37, according to Panmure Research. "The stock has significa

Read more

Wednesday broker round-up UPDATE

10th Apr 2013 08:57

African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Securities upgrades from sell to neutral with a target price of 195p. Deutsche Bank reduces target price from 340p to 230p keeping its hold rating. African Minerals: Deutsche Bank reduces target price from 620p to 594p and leaves its buy recommendation unaltered. An

Read more

European broker round-up

10th Apr 2013 08:18

Top US stock recommendations of the day: Bouygues: Credit Suisse reiterates UNDERWEIGHT rating with a price target of €19. Danone: Nomura maintains BUY rating with a price target of €60. France Telecom: Goldman Sachs reiterates SELL rating. Credit Suisse maintains NEUTRAL rating with a price tar

Read more

Wednesday broker round-up UPDATE

20th Feb 2013 07:04

Amara Mining: Goldman Sachs moves target price from 90p to 55p downgrading to neutral. Aureus Mining: Goldman Sachs revises target price from 65p to 55p retaining a neutral rating. Avocet Mining: Goldman Sachs cuts target price from 55p to 30p and upgrades from sell to neutral. AZ Electronic Mate

Read more

London close: Political uncertainty caps gains

6th Feb 2013 16:48

If in the best of times equities would find it hard going to continue advancing in the face of higher bond yields and rising energy quotes then even more so now that political uncertainty in the Eurozone, namely in Italy this time, as well as in the US is re-emerging a little. Thus, in the ear

Read more

London midday: Stocks holding higher for now

6th Feb 2013 12:00

By the midday mark the Footsie was continuing to trade slightly higher, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street and in Tokyo. The latter came in response to news that Bank of Japan Governor, Masaaki Shirakawa, will step down on March 19th, almost three weeks ahead of schedule, which some observers

Read more

Broker snap: Jefferies upgrades WPP to 'buy'

30th Jan 2013 09:11

Media and advertising giant WPP was performing well on Wednesday morning after Jefferies upgraded its rating for the stock from 'hold' to 'buy'. The broker said that an analysis WPP's largest clients and their 2013 ad budgets "looks encouraging" and "with expectations low, we see upside risk". Con

Read more

Tuesday broker round-up UPDATE

29th Jan 2013 07:26

Anglo American: JP Morgan takes price target from 1630p to 1680p, while its underweight rating remains unchanged. ARM Holdings: Jefferies raises target price from 693p to 805p keeping a hold recommendation. Astra Zaneca: Barclays ups target price from 3100p to 3200p and retains an equal-weight rat

Read more

Monday broker round-up - UPDATE

28th Jan 2013 08:04

Amino Technologies: Northland Capital takes price target from 75p to 80p reiterating a buy recommendation. Anglo American: Deutsche Bank shifts target price from 2230p to 2200p and retains a buy recommendation. Anite: Panmure Gordon increases target price from 165p to 170p and maintains a buy rati

Read more