Broker snap: Price cuts in pipeline at Unilever
5th Nov 2009 12:35
Hints during a conference call about price cuts in the pipeline may have contributed to a negative reaction to third quarter figures from Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever on Thursday morning. Warren Ackerman of Evolution Securities said Unilever management indicated it would initiate price
Read moreLondon midday: BoE expands QE programme
5th Nov 2009 10:41
London's top stocks are trading quietly after their initial fall as investors mull the Bank of England's decision to extend its quantitative easing programme by a further £25bn to £200bn. Telecoms group Cable & Wireless has dropped after it revived plans to split itself in to two parts. The announc
Read moreLondon open: Shares start lower
5th Nov 2009 08:17
London's top stocks opened lower in line with the weaker trend seen in the afternoon session on Wall Street and losses overnight on Asian markets. The market has much to occupy itself ahead of the announcement later today of the Bank of England's decision on whether to extend its quantitative easi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie on the back foot
5th Nov 2009 07:36
The blue-chip index is set to open in negative territory, following the weaker trend seen in the afternoon session on Wall Street and losses overnight on Asian markets. Traders expect the FTSE 100 to open around 42 points lower. The market has much to occupy itself ahead of the announcement later
Read moreUnilever sales volumes up 3.6%
5th Nov 2009 07:13
Food and household goods giant Unilever saw third quarter pre-tax profits drop by 43%, but volume growth of 3.6% came in better than expected. Pre-tax profits dropped to €1.42bn in the three month ended September compared with €2.50bn last year. Turnover was down 2% at €10.20bn. Nomura Securities
Read moreThursday preview: Unilever, C&W, Man, BoE
4th Nov 2009 14:57
Food and household goods giant Unilever brings out quarterly results on Thursday. Nomura Securities is more optimistic than most of the stockbroking community: 'We are 7% ahead of consensus at the EBIT [earnings before interest and tax] level. Forecast volume growth of +3.3% (consensus +2.3%) with E
Read moreWeek Ahead: M&S, Unilever, QE decision
30th Oct 2009 11:15
The Investor Day presentation by High Street giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) on 13 October backfired, with investment analysts underwhelmed by the presentations from senior executives, some of whom are jostling for position in the contest to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive officer next year.
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Petrofac, Anglo American, Unilever
23rd Oct 2009 06:32
Full-year earnings at oil services group Petrofac will be up by "at least" 20% as the company continues to win new orders, the company said yesterday. The shares are trading on a December 2009 earnings multiple of 17.7 times, falling to 13.2 next year. This is at a significant premium to some rival
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Royal Bank of Scotland, Vauxhall, Tesco
14th Oct 2009 06:20
Royal Bank of Scotland is exploring a government-backed plan to give up all of its 312 RBS-branded branches in England and Wales, in a radical move to satisfy Brussels state aid authorities. Officials close to the negotiations say the plan - mediated by the Treasury - is well advanced and is the fa
Read moreLondon close: Best finish in 12½ months
12th Oct 2009 16:48
UK share prices finished at their best levels in over a year Monday and, despite a few sellers appearing late on, the FTSE 100 ended the session above 5,200. Insurers Old Mutual, Standard Life and Legal & General were in demand all day. Rising stock markets are always good news for their investment
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks' balance sheet issues resurface
12th Oct 2009 14:23
The Footsie crashed through the 5200 barrier this morning to rise to a one-year high and although prices came off the top over the lunch-time session, the vast majority of blue-chips are still in the blue. The upward trend in global equity markets is good news for the insurers and their investment
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie at year-high
12th Oct 2009 12:07
London's blue chips hit their best level since September last year as buyers charged in again following the strong performance on Wall Street last week. There are strong risers in most sectors with the notable exception of banks where Barclays and Lloyds Banking are both lower. Banking giant Barcl
Read moreLondon open: London makes healthy start
12th Oct 2009 08:50
London has made a bright start helped by the strong finish to last week on Wall Street. Index heavyweight Vodafone is ahead along with Unilever, Shire and Segro as buyers dominate. Only Invensys and Randgold Resources are significantly in the red. Banking giant Barclays is lower despite reports it
Read moreUnilever sells JohnsonDiversey stake
7th Oct 2009 17:59
Anglo-Dutch household goods giant Unilever said it will cut its stake in JohnsonDiversey from 33% to 4%. The group will receive $158m in cash together with $250m senior notes with a 10½ per cent coupon, payable in cash or kind. The deal, which is expected to close before the year end, follows on
Read moreLondon close: Footsie closes higher by a whisker
25th Sep 2009 16:32
Footsie finished slightly in the blue going into the weekend on another indecisive day for the leading share index. Oil groups went well as the steady decline in the price of crude over the past few days took a pause. It dropped below $66 per barrel last night but has recovered a tad this morning.
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