London open: Stocks rebound from seven-week low, but Iraq still in focus
17th Jun 2014 08:20
- FTSE 100 rebounds from lowest since April 28th - Iraq tensions continue, US deploys troops - UK inflation data in focus - Shire gains on M&A hopes, Astra also in spotlight techMARK 2,802.94 +0.21% FTSE 100 6,762.27 +0.11% FTSE 250 15,730.40 +0.15% UK stocks rose slightly on Tuesday morning, boun
Read moreWhitbread cashes in on strong hotel market in Q1 - UPDATE
17th Jun 2014 07:09
A buoyant hotel market has helped Premier Inn owner Whitbread to book a 6.9% rise in like-for-like sales in the first quarter of the year. Whitbread said Premier Inn lifted total sales by 14.2% in the 13 weeks to May 29th, with a like-for-like sales gain of 9.5%, benefiting from continued growth in
Read moreSunday share tips: Whitbread, Petra Diamonds, Empiric Student Property
15th Jun 2014 12:28
Whitbread looks like a reliable investment despite the imminent departure of Chairman Anthony Habgood, Matthew Goodman said in the Sunday Times's Inside the City column. The company was a mess when Habgood took over in 2005 but he has sold peripheral businesses to focus on Premier Inn and Costa Coff
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Jun 2014 09:05
ASOS: Berenberg reduces target price from 5350p to 3785p, while its buy recommendation is kept. Babcock International: Citi reduces target price from 1320p to 1280p and retains a neutral rating. Cobham: UBS raises target price from 290p to 315p and keeps a neutral rating. Dechra Pharmaceuticals:
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: IAG and St James's Place are biggest risers
6th Jun 2014 14:37
International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) rallied after announcing passengers on its European British Airways flights will soon have access to in-flight broadband for the first time. St James's Place gained after Barclays reiterated an 'overweight' rating for the wealth manager. Whitbread advanc
Read moreHasard Global founder acquires shares worth £1.8m
30th May 2014 16:15
The Non-Executive Chairman and founder of Hansard Global, Dr Leonard Polonsky, has increased his stake in the specialist long-term savings provider with the purchase of two million shares. Taking his stake in the group to 41.34%, Polonsky spent 90p a share at a total trade value of £1.8m. The de
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners slide on iron ore and China concerns
30th May 2014 15:41
Mining stocks were trading firmly in the red as iron ore prices were headed for their sixth consecutive monthly decline, the longest losing streak on record. Meanwhile, concerns about a slowdown in China were also having an impact on stocks, as well as a profit warning from FTSE 250-listed Fenner,
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rangebound as investors turn cautious
28th May 2014 11:38
- Eurozone data comes in mixed, German unemployment weak - Markets cautious after recent highs - RBS, LSE lead financials high - GSK to be investigated by UK fraud body techMARK 2,788.03 +0.06% FTSE 100 6,849.21 +0.06% FTSE 250 15,890.88 +0.30% UK stocks were trading in a narrow range on Wednesday
Read moreLondon open: UK markets flat as Glaxo falls
28th May 2014 08:37
- European stocks retreat from six-year highs - Economic data in focus - GSK to be investigated by UK fraud body - Weir drops pursuit of Metso techMARK 2,784.94 -0.05% FTSE 100 6,838.75 -0.09% FTSE 250 15,885.65 +0.26% UK equities opened more or less flat on Wednesday as markets showed caution aft
Read moreSinclair IS Pharma CEO grows stake to 8.75m shares
1st May 2014 15:49
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AIM-listed Sinclair IS Pharma this week added 285,844 to his stake, while fellow board member Stuart Swanson made the modest purchase of 12,774 shares. CEO Chris Spooner paid 30.88p, spending a total of £106,047. His shareholding in the pharmaceutical group now
Read moreThorntons board grow stakes as investors sell on poor Q3
30th Apr 2014 15:37
The Chief Executive and Finance Director of chocolatier Thorntons each purchased 20,000 shares in the group on Wednesday after it reported a softening of third quarter sales. Jonathan Hart, the group's Chief Executive, paid 120.50p a share spending a total of £24,100 and taking his total stake to 2
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE at eight-week high on UK data, M&A speculation
29th Apr 2014 11:26
- FTSE 100 at highest since March 6th - UK GDP picks up, economic sentiment rises - Serco plummets after profit warning - Shire gains on potential takeover from Allergan techMARK 2,805.40 +1.25% FTSE 100 6,745.78 +0.68% FTSE 250 15,903.02 +0.49% A decent improvement in UK economic data and continu
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise as Russia tensions ease, but Serco drops
29th Apr 2014 08:38
- FTSE 100 at highest since March 6th - Russia-West tensions ease slightly - UK GDP data expected to show stronger growth - Serco drops after profit warning techMARK 2,801.27 +1.10% FTSE 100 6,729.00 +0.43% FTSE 250 15,909.99 +0.53% UK stock markets opened strongly on Tuesday, tracking a late rebo
Read moreWhitbread hikes full-year dividend, beats profit forecasts
29th Apr 2014 07:23
- Underlying profits up 16.5 per cent, ahead of forecasts - Revenue up 13 per cent - Dividend hiked by nearly a fifth Whitbread, the FTSE 100 leisure and hospitality group, beat forecasts with strong annual growth across the board and hiked its dividend, adding that it has made a good start to the
Read moreBroker tips: UK grocers, Whitbread, Synthomer...
8th Apr 2014 12:23
The outlook for profits across the UK grocery sector is 'highly constrained', according to Shore Capital, which has raised concerns about rising pricing contagion. The broker retained its 'sell' ratings for supermarket rivals Tesco and WM Morrison and online grocer Ocado. "We have harboured growing
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