United Utilities hits targets as Ofwat final determination looms
26th Nov 2014 07:07
Half-year results for United Utilites showed modest improvements in revenues and profits, as the water company expressed confidence about the forthcoming new regulatory pricing structure after submitting a plan for lower prices. Revenue rose 1.6% to £859.4m in the six months to 30 September, with un
Read moreDeutsche Bank upgrades National Grid to 'hold'
19th Nov 2014 10:28
National Grid shares were given a small boost on Wednesday after analysts at Deutsche Bank lifted their recommendation for the utility stock from 'sell' to 'hold'. They hiked their target price for the shares from 725p to 880p. "Falling bond yields and excellent UK operational performance have conv
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tullow Oil lifted by Liberum comments
18th Nov 2014 15:30
Tullow Oil's share price was rising strongly on Tuesday, supported by a 'buy' call from Liberum, which downplayed the recent sell-off in the shares. The broker said that results from two "basin-opening wells" in Kenya should be released in the next three months and would be catalysts for the stock,
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
18th Nov 2014 09:42
Aggreko: HSBC raises target price from 1550p to 1650p and maintains a neutral rating. Al Noor Hospitals: Citi initiates with a target price of 1240p and a buy recommendation. Barclays: Credit Suisse ups target price from 230p to 250p and keeps a neutral rating. Bodycote: JP Morgan cuts target pric
Read moreLondon close: Markets gain as ECB money-printing talk cheers traders
17th Nov 2014 16:15
The London market moved higher on Monday as the prospect of a boost for the European economy helped make up for dismal economic news from Japan. The FTSE 100 Index gained 17.6 points to 6671.97 after European Central Bank president Mario Draghi hinted that quantitative easing could be on the cards t
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
31st Oct 2014 09:36
Afren: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 110p to 105p, leaving its hold recommendation unaltered. Aviva: Barclays ups target price from 397p to 420p and reiterates its equal-weight rating. Barclays: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 300p to 295p and leaves its buy recommendation. Country
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Burberry declines after seeing a 'more difficult external environment'
14th Oct 2014 16:18
Burberry delivered double-digit underlying growth in the first half but shares in the high end fashion group slumped after the firm said that it has experienced a "more difficult external environment" with a softening in growth from Chinese consumers both home and when travelling. Financial services
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Oct 2014 09:17
Anglo Pacific: FinnCap upgrades to buy with a target price of 158p. Peel Hunt shifts target price from 196p to 198p retaining its buy recommendation. Ashmore: Canaccord Genuity upgrades from sell to hold with a target price of 300p. Numis cuts target price from 369p to 355p retaining an add rating.
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends on a high after US employment figures deliver suprise
3rd Oct 2014 16:38
It was a positive finish to the week for the FTSE, as stocks rebounded from four straight days of declines as US employment data beats expectations. The FTSE 100 closed 81.52 points higher at 6,527.91, a drop of 123.25 on the week. US non-farm payrolls rose to beat forecasts and the jobless rate fe
Read moreUnited Utilities to reduce costs to meet Ofwat's guidelines
3rd Oct 2014 08:10
In response to the draft determination published by The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat), United Utilities has submitted a revised plan for the 2015-2020 period. The proposal would result in average household bills falling by 4.1% in real terms over the five-year period, compared with a 2
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to open higher after US pares losses to end flat
3rd Oct 2014 07:42
The FTSE is expected to move higher on Friday morning, tracking a late rally in the US which resulted in a flat finish Stateside ahead of the country's September jobs report. City sources predict the top tier index will open around 55 points higher than yesterday's close of 6,446.39. US stocks reco
Read moreUnited Utilities tight-lipped on Ofwat as H1 profits flat
24th Sep 2014 07:02
Water company United Utilities remained tight-lipped on negotiations with regulator Ofwat over its future price structure, but said underlying first-half profits were at a similar level to last year's. Extending the pattern from the first quarter, revenue for the half-year to end-September was highe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks slide after Kantar data
23rd Sep 2014 16:07
Tesco continued to slide a day after warning that it had "overestimated" its predicted first-half figures with more bad news coming in the form of the latest Kantar data, which showed another drop in the retailer's sales and market share. Shares in sector peer Sainsbury were also weaker after reveal
Read moreWednesday preview: United Utilities update expected
23rd Sep 2014 12:23
The only major company scheduled to report on Wednesday is United Utilities, which will post its second quarter trading update and hopefully update on its tussle with regulator Ofwat on its prices for the next five years. Trading is likely to have remained in line with management's expectations, but
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends higher after data-heavy day
29th Aug 2014 17:23
- FTSE 100 closes up 13.95 at 6,819.75 - UK consumer confidence up - House prices inch higher techMARK 2,851.08 +0.17% FTSE 100 6,819.75 +0.20% FTSE 250 15,885.72 -0.16% The biggest London-listed stocks ended the week on an upbeat note after data-heavy session around for the UK, the Eurozone and t
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