Broker snap: Whitbread offers 'compelling value', says Nomura
6th Sep 2012 09:43
Nomura has reiterated its 'buy' rating and 2,220p target price for Whitbread, saying that its second-quarter trading statement shows 'solid trading' at Premier Inn and a 'strong performance' in pubs/restaurants and Costa. In hotels, second-quarter RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth was 1.9%
Read moreLondon open: Stocks gain on ECB optimism
6th Sep 2012 08:34
- Crucial day for Europe, ECB decision eyed - Bank of England expected to hold fire - Whitbread, Morrisons and miners lead risers Some strong gains from Whitbread, Morrisons and host of miners assured that the Footsie got off to a decent start on Thursday morning, as markets awaited a pivotal polic
Read moreLondon pre-open: All eyes on the ECB
6th Sep 2012 07:49
UK stocks are predicted to open slightly higher this morning on a big day for the markets as investors await a policy decision from the European Central Bank (ECB). The Footsie is expected to open around 20 points higher than yesterday's close of 5,658. All eyes are on ECB President Mario Draghi w
Read moreGold medal performance from Whitbread
6th Sep 2012 07:25
Although like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in the group's fiscal second quarter slowed from the preceding quarter, hotels and restaurants group Whitbread still managed to outstrip market expectations. Total sales in the 11 weeks to August 16th were up 14.8% year-on-year, an improvement on the 13.9%
Read moreWhitbread outperforms
6th Sep 2012 07:05
Hotels and restaurants group Whitbread saw like-for-like (LFL) sales rise 4.2 per cent year-on-year in the 11 weeks to August 16th. The Costa Coffee chain was the star performer, with LFL sales up 5.7%. The Restaurants business grew LFL sales by 4.9% while the Premier Inn hotels arm's sales were up
Read moreThursday preview: ECB, BoE, Morrisons, Whitbread
5th Sep 2012 16:24
Central bank decisions will be in focus on Thursday with the announcement by the European Central Bank (ECB) more eagerly anticipated than the outcome of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. "We regard it as very unlikely that the ECB will announce a yield cap or a very d
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
5th Sep 2012 09:20
AMEC: Nomura retains buy rating and 1,240p target. Ashtead: UBS ups target from 340p to 375p, buy rating unchanged. ASOS: Oriel Securities upgrades to buy; BarCap upgrades to overweight, target lifted rom 1,800p to 2,400p. BP: Investec keeps buy rating and 460p target. BT Group: JPMorgan Cazenov
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks cautious after Moody's lowers EU outlook
4th Sep 2012 07:32
London's Footsie is expected to open just a few points lower than yesterday's close of 5,758 after Moody's lowered the European Union's outlook. Credit ratings agency Moody's last night maintained the EU's 'Aaa' rating but lowered its outlook for the region from 'stable' to 'negative' to reflect "t
Read moreWhitbread poaches bean counter from Premier Farnell
4th Sep 2012 07:02
Nicholas Cadbury is defecting from electronic components supplier Premier Farnell to become the new Group Finance Director of Whitbread, the Costa Coffee and Premier Inns owner. Cadbury will succeed Christopher Rodgers as chief bean counter at Whitbread, with Rodgers moving on to become Managing Di
Read moreMonday broker round-up
3rd Sep 2012 09:14
APR Energy: UBS raises target from 590p to 600p, sell rating unchanged. ARM Holdings: Deutsche Bank downgrades to sell, target cut from 465p to 400p. Burberry: Nomura keeps buy rating and 1,450p target. Cairn Energy: BarCap cuts target from 445p to 350p, equal weight rating kept. Computacenter:
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Petrofac and the miners provide a drag
13th Aug 2012 15:26
Oilfield services firm Petrofac was leading the fallers on the Footsie on Monday afternoon despite reporting a strong first half as investors turned cautious on the pace of growth going forward Earnings per share were up 32% to 94.8c, with pre-tax profits rising to $412.5m, from $300m the year befo
Read moreLondon midday: Global growth fears weigh on stocks
13th Aug 2012 11:40
- Mood dampened by slowdown in Japan, China - Germany could block aid to Greece - Summer rally loses momentum UK stocks were broadly unchanged by Monday lunchtime as the recent rally in global equity markets began to fade with worries about Asian economic growth weighing on sentiment. The Japanes
Read moreLondon open: Japanese slowdown weighs on stocks
13th Aug 2012 08:16
- Petrofac leads fallers early on - Japanese GDP growth misses forecasts - Germany could block aid to Greece The FTSE 100 fell slightly in early trade on Monday on concerns over the global economy after Japanese growth figures disappointed. The Japanese economy grew by just 0.3% in the second quar
Read moreMonday broker round-up
13th Aug 2012 08:16
AMEC: HSBC cuts target from 1,280p to 1,275p, overweight rating kept. Aviva: Exane BNP Paribas downgrades to neutral. British American Tobacco: Nomura keeps buy rating and 3,390p target. British Land: JPMorgan Cazenove ups target from 560p to 610p, overweight rating kept. BSkyB: Nomura maintains
Read moreWhitbread reaches agreement on pension fund valuation
6th Jul 2012 12:49
Premier Inn and Costa Coffee owner Whitbread has come to an agreement over the group's pension fund on the triennial valuation as at March 31st last year. It has been agreed that the valuation shows a funding deficit on an actuarial basis of £521m compared to £388m at the last triennial valuation.
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