FTSE 100 movers: CRH surges on Holcim offer, Weir Group hit by downgrade
27th May 2015 12:33
UK stocks rebounded from the previous session's sell-off as gains made by tobacco, construction, electronics and utilities stocks outweighed weakness in mining and industrial metals. As of 13:45, the FTSE 100 was trading points 47.1 points higher at 6,996. Shares in building materials group CRH sur
Read moreLondon midday: Imperial and CRH lead the rebound before Queen's Speech
27th May 2015 11:39
Investors managed to take advantage of a quiet morning to push UK stocks higher on Wednesday following a sell-off the previous day. The FTSE 100 was up 0.57% at 6,988.37 by midday, with blue chips Imperial Tobacco and CRH leading the rise, along with a host of other construction and building materia
Read moreBroker tips: IAG, Weir, De La Rue, Taylor Wimpey, Insurers
27th May 2015 11:33
Credit Suisse has maintained its 'outperform' rating for airline conglomerate IAG after its proposed €1.4bn acquisition of Irish carrier Aer Lingus received the green light from the Irish government. The bank said that it continues to see the acquisition as "strategically positive" for IAG, whose st
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher ahead of Queen's Speech, Imperial rises
27th May 2015 09:20
UK stocks rebounded slightly on Wednesday morning after a sharp sell-off the previous session, with investors awaiting the Queen's Speech on a quiet day in terms of economic and corporate news. The FTSE 100 was up 0.32% at 6,971.03 early on after dropping 1.18% on Tuesday to 6,948.99. Consumer conf
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
27th May 2015 07:57
Beazley: JP Morgan upgrades to overweight from neutral and sets 308p target, up from 255p. Hiscox: JP Morgan upgrades to overweight from neutral and ups target to 950p from 801p. Lancashire Holdings: JP Morgan improves target price to 642p from 589p, stays at neutral. Dixons Carphone: Exane keeps
Read moreDeutsche Bank downgrades Weir to 'hold'
27th May 2015 07:56
Deutsche Bank has downgraded industrial engineer Weir Group to 'hold' from 'buy'. "Six months ago we said that a bottoming in the US rig count should drive Weir shares higher; with that bottom now seemingly imminent, the question is: what's next?" said DB. Deutsche said that while the rig count the
Read moreWeir tops FTSE 100, buoyed by encouraging rig count numbers
26th May 2015 15:21
Engineering company Weir Group was up 3.7% at 2,008p on Tuesday, topping the FTSE 100 leader board , with Jefferies pointing to data from US peer Baker Hughes out last Friday, which showed that the number of US oil rigs fell at the slowest pace in 24 weeks last week. "We note a further sequential mo
Read moreWestern oil companies treading carefully on Iran, experts say
18th May 2015 17:09
Western oil and gas companies are treading carefully on Iran as the wider market takes in the possibility of international sanctions on Tehran being lifted at some point, according to senior industry executives. Speaking at the Baker & McKenzie Global Oil & Gas Institute in Houston, USA on Monday, B
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Fresnillo surges on strong output guidance, financials lower
18th May 2015 12:34
UK stocks erased early gains as Greek concerns and a lack of economic data stoked investor uncertainty. Sector-wise, financials delivered the biggest drag, while energy stocks and miners provided a welcome boost. As of 13:30, the FTSE 100 was trading flat, just 1 point higher at 6,961 points. Fresn
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains wiped out on Greek uncertainty
18th May 2015 11:54
UK stock markets had erased gains and were trading flat by Monday lunchtime with financial shares providing a drag on concerns about Greece. The FTSE 100 was down 0.08% at 6,955.17 by midday, pulling back after reaching a high of 7,015.49 early on. Financials were trading lower with banking group L
Read moreBroker tips: BP, Lloyds, BHP Billiton, Weir Group, Bwin.party
18th May 2015 11:50
Goldman Sachs has cut its stance on the integrated oil sector from 'neutral' to 'cautious' and lowered UK major BP specifically from 'neutral' to 'sell', after reducing its crude price forecasts. "This change is likely to put severe pressure on the integrated oils, leaving them too high on the cost
Read moreCitigroup upgrades Weir Group to 'buy' on potential upside risk
18th May 2015 09:17
Shares in UK-listed industrial engineer Weir Group were advancing on Monday after analysts at Citigroup lifted their rating on the stock from 'neutral' to 'buy' and hiked their target price from 1,750p to 2,200p. The bank said that the risk-reward balance on earnings upgrades at Weir is "now tilted
Read moreLondon open: Stocks advance as Aveva and Bwin jump on M&A
18th May 2015 09:13
UK stocks jumped on Monday morning despite ongoing uncertainty about Greece, as the mood on the market was boosted by bid speculation surrounding Aveva and Bwin.party. The FTSE 100 was up 0.56% at 6,999.75 early on, with mining stocks leading the charge, though BHP Billiton was bucking the trend. E
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aberdeen lower on accelerating outflows, HSBC underwhelms
5th May 2015 13:21
Asset manager Aberdeen led the fallers as it reported an accelerating outflow of funds, with £11.3bn withdrawn by investors in the six months to 31 March. HSBC was trading lower, after underwhelming with its first-quarter results despite profits coming in ahead of expectations. Reported pre-tax prof
Read moreThursday broker round-up
30th Apr 2015 18:01
Schroders: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform and 2,770p target price. Tesco: UBS restarts coverage at buy with 260p target. Pearson: Westhouse Securities reiterates sell and 1,185p target price. RBS: Shore Capital reiterates hold, Numis reiterates add (with 400p target), Investec reiterates hold
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