Broker snap: Investec downgrades Unilever to hold
20th Mar 2012 11:02
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
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
20th Mar 2012 10:04
Aggreko: Credit Suisse raises target from 2,140p to 2,350p, neutral rating kept. ARM Holdings: BarCap upgrades from equal weight to overweight, target lifted from 700p to 725p; Investec upgrades from hold to buy, target lifted from 640p to 800p. Centrica: Nomura raises target from 340p to 350p, n
Read moreSunday tip round-up: Dogs of the FTSE, Investors´ favourites
18th Mar 2012 14:07
Since the year 2000 experience seems to show that investing in the highest yielding stocks of the UK´s benchmark index, when the economy is recovering, can be a sound strategy. Therefore, given signs that the worst is over the Midas team at the Daily Mail has decided to re-launch their 'Dogs of the
Read moreLondon close: Subdued finish for Footsie, but Vedanta jumps
24th Feb 2012 17:07
- Vedanta jumps on further speculation of restructuring in India. - Lloyds falls on tough outlook for 2012. - BoE's Fisher thinks outlook is 'incredibly uncertain'. The Footsie finished flat on Friday after the blue chip index swung between gains and losses in a tight range of just 20 points or so
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Hammerson rises on strategy rethink
24th Feb 2012 13:18
Property firm Hammerson caught the market on the hop with its decision to sell off all its office developments to focus on its retail assets, but with the employment situation looking bleak investors were quick to applaud the decision. The news sent the stock into the top spot despite a slump in pr
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie nudges higher ahead of US open
24th Feb 2012 11:49
- Lloyds falls on tough outlook for 2012. - Consumer product groups Unilever, Reckitt sold off. - BoE's Fisher thinks outlook is 'incredibly uncertain'. The Footsie was trading just a few points higher by midday on Friday, as a decline in consumer products stocks, miners and Lloyds was offset by a
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish down with Greece in focus
15th Feb 2012 16:38
- Oil rises on supply concerns. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Samaras to honour terms of new package. Despite an earlier rise, the FTSE 100 index slumped in afternoon trade to finish in the red as strong performance by banks was offset by some heavyweight stocks that went ex-dividend. All
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Imperial Tobacco, Unilever
3rd Feb 2012 07:18
Obviously, investing in tobacco shares is not to everyone's taste - but through good times and bad they continue to make money for shareholders, Questor in the Telegraph notes. A study this week released by BNY Mellon Wealth Management and Janney Montgomery Scott showed that the MSCI World Tobacco
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish up after US data
2nd Feb 2012 16:37
After a morning session in the red, UK stocks erased losses in afternoon trading after some better-than-expected data Stateside helped the outlook for the world's largest economy. Leading the rise on the Footsie were the miners after some M&A rumours bolstered gains. Nevertheless, analysts at Digi
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners surge on Glencore-Xstrata merger speculation
2nd Feb 2012 14:46
Meanwhile, confirmation of a merger between Swiss commodities giants Glencore and Xstrata sent the two stocks to the top of the pile today, with Xstrata jumping 10% and Glencore rising 7%. A merger of mining outfit Xstrata and commodities trader Glencore could create a leviathan valued at around £52
Read moreSector movers: Smith & Nephew boosts health care stocks
2nd Feb 2012 14:11
The health care equipment and services sector was the best performer on Thursday afternoon after some well-received results from medical devices maker Smith & Nephew. The company saw revenue rise 3.66% to $1,106m in the final three months of 2011 from $1,067m in the corresponding quarter of last ye
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie flat despite mining strength, Xstrata surges
2nd Feb 2012 12:03
- Xstrata/Glencore surge on merger talks. - Mining strength outweighed by Astra, Unilever, Shell. - China considering increasing involvement in Eurozone rescue. The Footsie was broadly flat by lunchtime as poorly-received results from some big hitters outweighed strength in the mining sector. Mark
Read moreThursday broker round-up
2nd Feb 2012 09:15
AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon maintains buy rating and 3,600p target. Imperial Tobacco: Nomura upgrades from reduce to neutral, 2,150p target unchanged. Compass Group: Panmure Gordon maintains buy rating and 675p target. Smith & Nephew: Panmure Gordon reiterates buy stance and 640p target. Unileve
Read moreLondon open: Stocks pull back but Xstrata soars
2nd Feb 2012 08:35
Stocks opened slightly lower on Thursday, pulling back from the +100 point gain for the Footsie yesterday as markets celebrated positive global macroeconomic data with manufacturing indices in the UK, Eurozone, US and China all showing an improvement in January. In other news, ratings agency Standa
Read moreUnilever disappoints but says not washed up yet
2nd Feb 2012 07:26
Shares in consumer goods giant Unilever were left on the shelf after the Anglo-Dutch company reported revenues below expectations and expressed worries over input costs and the global economy. Turnover for the fourth quarter was €11.564bn, a rise of 6.9% against the same period of 2010. However, th
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