Incoming United Utilities boss splashes out
16th Mar 2011 16:28
United Utilities' incoming chief executive has spent £400,000 on shares in the water supplier. Steven Mogford, who will take the reins at United Utilities on 31 March, took 70,814 shares at 564.9p a time, his first purchase of shares in the company. Mogford's appointment was announced in November
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Jaguar, Wm Morrison, Gold...
2nd Mar 2011 06:35
The manufacturing recovery was in full swing yesterday as four leading exporters reported booming profits, while confidence in the sector remained at record high levels. However, one of Britain's leading industrialists has warned that the Government must do more to boost the sector or risk stifling
Read moreBroker snap: Unilever resilient in tough environment
4th Feb 2011 13:48
Despite revising Unilever's near-term estimates down, Charles Stanley has maintained its medium-term forecasts because it has faith in the company's ability to weather very challenging operating conditions over the next two years. The Anglo-Dutch food and households goods giant reported an organic
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Schroders, Unilever
4th Feb 2011 13:31
Mobile phone titan Vodafone's upbeat trading statement on Thursday should improve sentiment and encourage a premium rating for the stock, Nomura Research believes. "Vodafone's US exposure should also command a premium given the more co-operative atmosphere at Verizon Wireless," where Vodafone hold
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Unilever, Compass, GlaxoSmithKline...
4th Feb 2011 06:48
Views on consumer giant Unilever vary. The bulls say that the company's strong brands offer an ideal way into emerging markets. The bears yesterday were worrying about margins. The markets that Unilever occupies are fiercely competitive, and the cost of the commodities it needs are rocketing. As o
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses grow
3rd Feb 2011 15:26
London is back near intraday lows after an early sell-off on Wall Street. Royal Dutch Shell is still down despite more than quadrupling fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and cost-cutting. Earnings for the last three months of 2010 on a current cost of
Read moreLondon midday: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 12:31
Stocks have moved in both directions following updates this morning, but fallers hold sway, helping to keep the top share index in the red. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production a
Read moreLondon open: Mixed reception for company updates
3rd Feb 2011 08:27
Stocks are moving in both directions after updating the market and the top share index is currently in the red by about a dozen points. Royal Dutch Shell is a faller even though the oil titan more than quadrupled fourth quarter profits thanks to higher energy prices, an increase in production and c
Read moreUnilever shrugs off soaring commodity costs
3rd Feb 2011 07:26
Unilever has taken a €110m provision to cover possible competition law breaches in the European consumer detergents market. The Anglo-Dutch food and households goods giant, which owns the Domestos bleach brand, said it had concluded it is now 'appropriate' to take a provision following an Europea
Read moreThursday preview: Shell, Glaxo, Unilever
2nd Feb 2011 16:28
It might be wise to batten down the hatches on Thursday as a flood of company updates is predicted. Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, pharmaceuticals colossus GlaxoSmithKline and household goods and foods leviathan Unilever are all set to declare full year figures while telecoms titan BT weighs in wit
Read moreWeek Ahead: BP, Shell, US non-farm payrolls
28th Jan 2011 13:32
There are some big guns releasing results next week, including oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell, pharmaceuticals titan GlaxoSmithKline and household goods and foods leviathan Unilever . It's also a big week for economic announcements, with the European Central Bank (ECB) set to announce its inte
Read moreLondon close: US tax cut extension boosts shares
7th Dec 2010 16:52
Shares closed with decent gains Tuesday, though off earlier highs that came after an extension of George W Bush's tax cuts in the US lifted sentiment. US president Barack Obama has said that he will agree to a two-year extension on tax-cuts from the Bush era in a compromise arrangement that bodes w
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares extend gains
7th Dec 2010 14:23
With US stocks set to open high on the back of the tax-cuts deal between president Obama and the Republican party, London's blue-chips added to the morning's gains over the lunch time session. US president Barack Obama has said that he will agree to a two-year extension on tax-cuts from the Bush er
Read moreNestlé wants Premier Foods Quorn unit
3rd Dec 2010 07:03
Premier Foods admitted today it has received bids for its meat-free business from multinational food groups and private equity firms in response to speculation that Nestlé is the buyer. Shares in the Hovis bread and Branston Pickle owner rose 12% yesterday on talk the Swiss consumer foods giant is
Read moreBrainspark boss increases stake to 38.2%
9th Nov 2010 16:29
Alfredo Villa, chief executive of Brainspark, has bought 2.1m shares £2.6m or 125p a share. Brainspark is an investment company with a primary portfolio in Italy encompassing interactive media, leisure, entertainment and financial services. As well as being the chief executivee of Brainspark, Vill
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