Broker 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
Read moreBroker snap: Uncertainty persists in the energy sector, says Nomura
20th Mar 2012 10:17
Nomura has highlighted National Grid and United Utilities as its key picks in the UK utilities sector, but has warned that uncertainties still remain given the current climate and regulatory intervention. "Energy continues to be a contentious issue in UK politics - the economic downturn, combined w
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 moreLondon open: Miners pull the Footsie lower
20th Mar 2012 08:36
- Miners fall as BHP warns of slowing steel production in China - OBR to raise UK GDP forecasts for 2012 - ARM, National Grid, United Utilities rise after upgrades The FTSE 100 slumped in the opening hour on Tuesday as the miners dragged the blue chip index into the red for a second day. According
Read moreLondon open: Markets await news from Greece
8th Mar 2012 08:34
- Greek debt-swap participation rate estimated at 60 percent. - Markets await policy decisions from BoE, ECB. - ARM rises after iPad launch, Morrison jumps on strong 2011. London's blue chip index continued its strong performance ahead of policy decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the Euro
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners leap on Greek deal optimism
20th Feb 2012 14:33
Mining stocks and banks performed well in the morning session, buoyed by Greek optimism and the People´s Bank of China's decision to cut its legal reserve ratio requirement for large banks by half a percentage point, announced late on Friday. Mining stalwarts Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite increases on Greek bailout hopes
20th Feb 2012 11:32
- Miners jump as investors seek riskier assets. - Officials optimistic about securing Greek bailout. - PBoC cuts RRR for banks. With the possibility of a Greek bailout edging closer, and China moving to ease fears of a 'hard-landing' over the weekend, UK stocks had extended gains by lunchtime, wit
Read moreLondon open: Buying boosted by Greece, China
20th Feb 2012 08:26
- Decision day for Greece, hopes of a bailout approval boost stocks. - PBoC cuts RRR for banks. - Miners, oil stocks perform well early on. Just a handful of stocks were in the red in early trading on Monday, as market sentiment was lifted by hopes that Greece can secure its next tranche of aid. Me
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 moreThursday tips round-up: United Utilities, Petra Diamonds
2nd Feb 2012 06:54
The Tempus column in the Times has its mind on United Utilities, the north England-focused water company. This is a highly regulated stock which is all about yield. The current promise is for yield to grow each year at inflation plus 2%. In 2012 the full year yield is going to come in at 5.3% althou
Read moreLondon close: Financials surge as macro data lifts sentiment
1st Feb 2012 17:00
- Schroders leads financial stocks higher as risk appetite increases. - Manufacturing data from UK, Europe, US and China well-received. - Greece 'one formal step away' from deal. The Footsie finished with a triple-digit point gain on Wednesday after manufacturing data from across the globe lifted s
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise after Eurozone manufacturing data
1st Feb 2012 11:56
Gains were extended by lunchtime after Eurozone manufacturing data suggested that the region may escape a recession. Financials were putting in a strong performance in London, led by ICAP which was rising over 7% at the midday mark. January's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the Eurozone manufa
Read moreLondon open: ICAP leads strong rise for Footsie
1st Feb 2012 08:23
The Footsie opened in positive territory, rising well above the 5,700 level, after better-than-expected Chinese data and rumours of progress in Greece lifting the mood early on. European markets have opened strongly as investors await Eurozone manufacturing data later this morning. The HSBC China m
Read moreRevenue rising at United Utilities as water price goes up
1st Feb 2012 07:13
Water utility company United Utilities is on track to deliver full year results in line with expectations on the back of steadily rising revenues. In the first half of its current fiscal year, which runs to the end of March, revenue was up by about 4% year-on-year and this trend has continued into
Read moreSector movers: Miners sold off as dollar gains on euro crisis
30th Jan 2012 14:50
The Eurozone crisis sparked a sell-off in the industrial metals and mining sector today, as ongoing talks in Greece and this afternoon's EU summit weighed on market sentiment. The absence of a debt-swap deal in Greece, the downgrade of five Eurozone nations, and a euro-era record high Portuguese 10
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