Sector movers: Home Retail boosts retailers, Danone dents food stocks
19th Jun 2012 15:50
With Home Retail's market value increasing by a quarter, the general retail sector was the best performing category on Tuesday afternoon. The stock jumped in early trading after revenues at its Argos division came in at £819m for the quarter, down just 0.2% on a like-for-like basis. The City consen
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Whitbread pushes FTSE higher
19th Jun 2012 15:40
Forecast-beating like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in its first quarter saw shares of Whitbread jump during Tuesday's session. The Premier Inn and Costa Coffee owner reported that LFL sales increased by 4.5%, better than expectations of a 3.0% improvement. Engineering group Weir was also making imp
Read moreLondon midday: Stimulus hopes drive gains
19th Jun 2012 11:28
- G20 to take 'all necessary policy measures' - UK, US stimulus hopes boost markets - Whitbread, Home Retail rise strongly UK stocks were trading near their highest levels of the day by lunchtime on hopes that the world's leaders can pull together to battle the global financial crisis. According t
Read moreLondon open: Whitbread, Home Retail provide a boost early on
19th Jun 2012 08:30
- Leaders to take 'all necessary policy measures' - Whitbread provides a lift on the Footsie after strong Q1 - Greece, Spain and FOMC in focus The FTSE 100 index advanced in early trading on Tuesday morning after euro members pledged to 'safeguard' the region. According to a leaked draft communiqu
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
1st May 2012 08:09
Aberdeen Asset Management: Citigroup ups target from 290p to 310p, buy rating kept; Barclays Capital raises target from 260p to 285p, equal weight retained; UBS lifts target from 310p to 340p, buy rating unchanged. Avocet Mining: Nomura reiterates buy recommendation and 310p target. Cape: Arden Pa
Read moreFriday broker round-up - UPDATE
27th Apr 2012 09:21
AstraZeneca: Credit Suisse maintains underperform rating and 2,600p target. ASOS: HSBC upgrades from neutral to overweight, target cut from 1,900p to 1,780p. Barclays: Nomura reiterates neutral recommendation and 268p target. British American Tobacco: Jefferies maintains buy recommendation and 3,
Read moreLondon close: Whitbread leads the Footsie higher
26th Apr 2012 16:41
- Whitbread up 6pc, Astra down 6pc - Economic data from UK and US comes in mixed - Fed sees growth picking up gradually The Footsie rallied in afternoon trade to finish close to its intraday highs reached in the morning session. Investors had to digest a barrage of company results and trading updat
Read moreSector movers: Unilever boosts food sector, Astra drags down pharmas
26th Apr 2012 15:45
The food producing and processing sector was the best performing sector on Thursday afternoon, with heavyweight constituent Unilever providing a lift following its first-quarter statement. The consumer goods giant, famous for food brands such as Flora, Ben & Jerry's, PG Tips and Pot Noodle (as well
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie flat as AstraZeneca provides a drag
26th Apr 2012 11:51
- Footsie flat after strong start - AstraZeneca drops after disappointing first-quarter results - Domestic economic data comes in mixed After a strong rise early on, the FTSE 100 had erased gains to trade broadly flat by lunchtime after a mixed reception to a barrage of company results and trading
Read moreLondon open: Footsie rises after barrage of results
26th Apr 2012 08:36
- Unilever, Shell, Whitbread, Barclays rise after results/updates - Astra, Croda, Admiral provide a drag - Fed expects growth to 'pick up gradually' The FTSE 100 was heading for its third consecutive rise on Thursday with some well-received results from Unilever, Royal Dutch Shell, Whitbread and Ba
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
26th Apr 2012 08:36
Admiral: Oriel Securities retains sell rating and 740p target. AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon maintains buy rating and 3,600p target. Barclays: Nomura reiterates neutral rating and 268p target; Exane BNP Paribas keeps outperform rating and 300p target; Oriel Securities keeps buy rating and 285p targe
Read moreUnilever has good start, hikes dividend
26th Apr 2012 07:34
Consumer goods giant Unilever said it had a good start to the year and was on track to hit its full year targets. The firm, which is behind brands as diverse as TreSemme, PG Tips and Brylcream, saw turnover increase by 11.9% to €12.1bn in the first quarter of the year. It reported underlying sales
Read moreWeek Ahead: Barclays kicks off banking results season
20th Apr 2012 10:57
Barclays kicks off the banking results season on Thursday, while the pharmaceuticals giants are also putting the finishing touches to their trading statements, with Glaxo, Astra and Shire all set to give first quarter updates. Anglo-Dutch Footsie heavyweights Royal Dutch Shell and Unilever will be
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Energy, Barclays, Retail sales
11th Apr 2012 07:07
Britain will attempt to sell arms to Indonesia for the first time in 13 years today when defence companies arrive as part of David Cameron's trade mission. In the latest leg of the Prime Minister's tour of South-East Asia, he will attempt to reopen Britain's defence trade with the Government in Jaka
Read moreBroker tips: Unilever, Regus, Energy stocks
20th Mar 2012 11:19
Investec has cut its recommendation for food and cosmetic goods giant Unilever from buy to hold and cut its target price from 2,170p to 2,100p - the first time it has downgraded the stock in 17 years. While the broker says it is still an admirer of the company, two things are a cause for concern: a
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