FTSE 100 movers: Travis Perkins lifted by Liberum Capital rating
11th Oct 2013 14:34
Travis Perkins shares got a boost after Liberum Capital raised its target price and reiterated its 'buy' rating on the builders' merchant and home improvement retailer. Restaurant and hotels owner Whitbread was also higher after Citigroup upgraded the stock to 'buy', saying: "Improved sentiment ar
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks surge on US hopes as risk appetite returns
11th Oct 2013 11:20
The FTSE 100 was trading at a two-week high on Friday morning on hopes that ongoing negotiations in the US will result in a short-term deal to raise the borrowing limit in order to avoid a dreaded default. After a 1.5% jump on Thursday, the FTSE 100 was extending gains this morning, rising 0.8% to
Read moreBroker tips: Standard Life, GlaxoSmithKline, Whitbread
11th Oct 2013 11:19
JPMorgan Cazenove has reiterated its 'overweight' rating and 430p target price for insurance group Standard Life, adding the stock to its European 'Analyst Focus List'. The bank pointed out that the stock has been under pressure since the start of the week, partly due to erroneous data implying net
Read moreBroker snap: Whitbread to benefit from rapid UK recovery, says Citi
11th Oct 2013 09:19
Whitbread, the owner of the Premier Inn, Beefeater and Costa chains, was making gains on Friday morning after Citigroup upgraded the stock from 'neutral' to 'buy' on the back of an improved outlook for the UK economy. The company, which also runs pubs and restaurants under the brands of Taybarns,
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Oct 2013 08:51
Barratt Developments: Deutsche Bank moves target price from 365p to 391p reiterating its buy recommendation. Bovis Homes Group: Deutsche Bank raises target price from 901p to 1001p and keeps a buy recommendation. Croda International: Liberum Capital downgrades to hold with a target price of 2480p.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks extend gains on hopes over debt-ceiling deal
11th Oct 2013 08:27
UK stocks were making small gains on Friday morning in light of an impressive finish on Wall Street and Asian markets overnight on the back of hopes that US lawmakers could come to a resolution over the impending debt ceiling. Benchmarks in New York surged by at least 2% each - the Dow Jones put it
Read moreLondon close: Stocks surge on signs of progress in Washington
10th Oct 2013 16:35
Stocks rebounded strongly on Thursday after hitting a three-month low the day before, as hopes that US politicians can resolve the ongoing deadlock in Washington prompted bargain hunters back into the market. The FTSE 100 finished 92.58 points higher at 6,430.49, a rise of 1.46%. This comes after t
Read moreWhitbread rumoured to be planning potential sale of Costa
10th Oct 2013 14:42
Whitbread's shares surged on Thursday afternoon trading amid reports it could shed its Costa Coffee business. The London-listed hospitality giant, which also owns hotel group Premier Inn, is rumoured to be weighing up whether to set the coffee chain loose. Last month the group reported a 5.7% ris
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Persimmon boosted by 'Help to Buy' confidence
10th Oct 2013 14:35
House builder Persimmon was a high riser this afternoon as optimism over the government's 'Help to Buy' scheme continues to help the stock bounce off recent lows. The share price has now gained over 10 per cent over the last two days. Whitbread shares leapt on market chatter about a potential spin-
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Sep 2013 08:20
ASOS: Canaccord Genuity increases target price from 3400p to 6200p and upgrades to buy. Associated British Foods: Jefferies raises target price from 1650p to 1750p and retains a hold recommendation. Barclays: Alphavalue upgrades from add to buy with a target price of 344.20p. BHP Billiton: Nomura
Read moreLondon close: Stocks inch higher after choppy session
11th Sep 2013 16:57
Markets were rangebound on Wednesday but managed to eke out small gains by the close of trade as traders digested ongoing developments in Syria and a fall in unemployment in the UK. The FTSE 100, which swung between gains and losses for most of the day, finished just 4.44 points higher at 6,588.43
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: ARM rises on launch of latest Apple iPhones
11th Sep 2013 14:49
Leading today's risers was ARM Holdings, the chip designer, which rose strongly in the aftermath of last night's launch by customer Apple of its new iPhone models. The phones use a new 64-bit processor, which a number of analysts believe will equate to an increased royalty rate to ARM than the 32-bi
Read moreLondon midday: Markets pause after recent gains, UK unemployment falls
11th Sep 2013 11:50
Stocks were trading broadly flat on Wednesday morning with markets rangebound after hitting a four-week high the day before, as traders continued to digest recent developments in Syria after the government agreed to hand over its chemical weapons. The FTSE 100 was swinging between gains and losses
Read moreBroker tips: GlaxoSmithKline, Glencore Xstrata, Whitbread
11th Sep 2013 11:23
Panmure Gordon has kept its positive stance on pharmaceuticals group GlaxoSmithKline, despite recent concerns over rising competition from generic versions of its Advair drug, recommending investors to 'buy' on weakness. The broker said that there are still a number of regulatory process steps and
Read moreBroker snap: Whitbread fully valued, JPMorgan downgrades
11th Sep 2013 10:58
JPMorgan Cazenove has downgraded its rating for cafe, hotel and leisure group Whitbread from 'overweight' to 'neutral', saying that the company is a long-term winner but fully valued for now. Whitbread has outperformed the UK market by 25% over the past year, outperforming the European leisure sect
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