Broker snap: Vodafone to profit from Verizon iPhone
14th Dec 2010 10:40
Vodafone deserves a premium rating due to the combination of the mobile phone giant's improving profit trend, premium cash conversion and clear dividend upside, says Nomura. The iPhone is expected to be on wireless operator Verizon's (VZW) shelves in early 2011, and analyst James Britton expects it
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Vodafone, Majestic Wine, Diageo...
14th Dec 2010 06:59
Vodafone seems to be in quite a good position. It is making a bet on the growth of smartphones, which seems sensible, and recently launched new tariffs that allow cheaper browsing while abroad. Analysts are backing revenues to grow and have the stock on a price of 8.7 times estimated full-year ear
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: BP, Vodafone, Begbies Traynor
7th Dec 2010 06:44
Shares in BP are not far short of having recovered half the fall brought about by the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. There is a growing optimism, both within the company and on the stock market, that the damage from the disaster may not be as bad as had been feared. Some of the $20bn fund ring-fenced
Read moreLondon close: Footsie advances as takeover activity excites
6th Dec 2010 16:56
Shares closed with decent gains as bid activity and higher oil prices whetted investor appetites. There has been no shortage of takeover news to keep traders occupied on an otherwise fairly quiet day. FTSE 250-listed De La Rue was the star performer. The banknote printer enjoyed a second wind Mond
Read moreLondon afternoon: Oil stocks give a lift
6th Dec 2010 14:24
Leading shares are mixed but the Footsie is clinging on to positive territory, largely on the strength of oil stocks, which advance as the price of crude oil moves to levels not seen in more than two years. There has been no shortage of takeover news to keep traders occupied on an otherwise fairly
Read moreLondon midday: Bid action boosts shares
6th Dec 2010 12:04
Shares are broadly higher, with bid activity in the mid-cap index helping to generate excitement. De La Rue has received a bid, the FTSE 250-listed banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also respons
Read moreLondon open: Bid speculation enlivens dull market
6th Dec 2010 08:47
The prospect of mergers and acquisitions activity is livening up an otherwise sedate opening session for London. De La Rue has received a bid, the banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also responsi
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Glencore, Energy bills, RBS...
5th Dec 2010 10:38
Glencore, the world's biggest commodities trader, is poised for a £31bn float that should be one of the largest ever on the London Stock Exchange. The Switzerland-based group has lined up three investment banks ? Credit Suisse, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley ? to prepare for a stock market debut as e
Read moreBroadband growth coming from mobile customers
2nd Dec 2010 09:56
Around 71% of UK homes now have broadband internet access, up from 68% last year, but nearly all of the growth is coming from mobile broadband services. The Communications Market Report (CMR) for 2010 from communications industry watchdog Ofcom shows that new customers for fixed line broadband serv
Read moreLondon close: Shares slump as eurozone saga continues
29th Nov 2010 16:45
The leading share index closed with triple-digit losses Monday as jitters over the eurozone debt situation continued to plague the markets. Financial markets are still betting either Portugal, Spain, or both, will need a rescue deal similar to the €85bn Irish bail-out, rubber-stamped over the weeke
Read moreSector movers: Mobile phone stocks under pressure
29th Nov 2010 15:50
Mobile telecommunications stocks are under pressure despite some cheery updates from the sector. Vodafone today cut the price of sending emails and surfing the net while abroad. The announcement has failed to impress the market though. Avanti Communications bucked the downward trend after the sate
Read moreLondon afternoon: Euro-zone fears resurface
29th Nov 2010 14:18
Thoughts that the euro-zone boil had been lanced by the agreement of a bail-out package for Ireland have proved premature, with rising Spanish bond yields suggesting that the prospect of Spain being the recipient of an EU/IMF aid package cannot be ruled out. An underwhelming response to the latest
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie deep in the red after reversal
29th Nov 2010 12:30
The leading share index is now firmly in the red after giving up the strong gains it was posting this morning. Markets remain jittery over the eurozone debt crisis. The euro hit new lows against a basket of currencies this morning, despite claims by European politicians that the €85bn Irish bail-o
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead market higher
29th Nov 2010 08:54
UK shares have made a bright start to the week led by the banks after Ireland signed up to the EU/IMF bail-out at the weekend. Royal Bank of Scotland is the best performer. It has the largest exposure of the UK banks to Ireland. Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC are all going well. Bank of Ireland, meanwh
Read moreVodafone cuts cost of Europe smartphone use
29th Nov 2010 08:22
UK smartphone users won't rack up such huge bills when travelling in Europe after Vodafone today cut the price of sending emails and surfing the net while abroad. Occasional travellers will be able to take a domestic data plan overseas for €2 (£1.70) per day, 60% less than the company's existing pl
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