London close: Stocks fall as nervousness sets in
28th Jan 2011 16:51
Shares were nursing big losses by the end of the day as more gloomy economic figures stoked nervousness. Consumer stocks were under the cosh after UK consumer confidence in January slumped in January, as the VAT rise kicked in. Insipid weekly trading figures from department store group John Lewis h
Read moreLondon afternoon: Confidence blow for equities
28th Jan 2011 14:50
Leading shares are lower, with consumer stocks under the cosh after UK consumer confidence in January slumped in January, as the VAT rise kicked in. Insipid weekly trading figures from department store group John Lewis have not helped sentiment. The GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index dropped eight p
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Carpetright, Betfair
14th Dec 2010 15:45
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 moreFTSE 250 movers: Imagination Tech rises higher
14th Dec 2010 15:09
Chipmaker Imagination Technologies is on the rise after it announced, alongside its half year results, that it would buy Caustic Graphics for $27m to bring 3D graphics to mobile phones. Imagination posted record half-year revenues and profits after strong growth from both licensing and royalties. A
Read moreBroker snap: Carpetright's valuation unjustified
14th Dec 2010 10:56
Carpetright's interims came in lower than finnCap was expecting as the broker predicts that further downside risk remains. Carpet and floor coverings retailer Carpetright reported an adjusted interim pre-tax profit of £10m for the first half, below the broker's forecasts of £15m. While costs were
Read moreCarpetright profit slides
14th Dec 2010 07:48
Carpet and floor coverings retailer Carpetright rolled out a 28% drop in first half profit as sales continued to be dogged by poor consumer demand and the sluggish housing market. Underlying pre-tax profit fell to £10m for the 26 weeks ended 30 October 2010 from £13.9m the year before. Revenue fell
Read moreThursday tips round-up: BAT, Carpetright, CSR...
28th Oct 2010 06:06
Tobacco is one of the most defensive sectors in a downturn, for one simple reason. Smokers, particularly in the emerging markets, typically refuse to give up their habits, irrespective of how much companies raise prices. Certainly, the shares of British American Tobacco (BAT), the world's second-lar
Read moreLondon close: Bad day ends badly
27th Oct 2010 16:12
London ended the day heavily in the red as a triple-digit fall on Wall Street knocked an attempted rally by Footsie firmly on the head. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected hit the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto the worst performers. Britis
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally fizzles out
27th Oct 2010 14:23
Expectations of a weak opening on Wall Street put an end to London's attempt to move into positive territory, and losses lengthened again over the lunch time session. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and
Read moreLondon midday: Miners keep Footsie subdued
27th Oct 2010 11:58
Footsie has dragged itself off the lows seen earlier in the morning but with weak metal prices hitting mining shares, the index is not making much headway. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have also knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio T
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
27th Oct 2010 08:44
London has followed on from last night's lacklustre performance on Wall Street and a weak display in Asia this morning with a poor start. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto the worst performe
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early dip in store
27th Oct 2010 07:27
Shares are expected to pull back further Wednesday following last night's lacklustre performance on Wall Street and a weak display in Asia this morning on reports that US monetary easing measures will be smaller than expected. Futures prices indicate an early 18-point drop for the FTSE 100 followin
Read moreStill tough at Carpetright
27th Oct 2010 07:13
Floor coverings retailer Carpetright said group sales declined 5.2% in the 12 weeks ended 23 October 2010 and warned it expects tough market conditions to continue into 2011. The closure of its operations in Poland accounted for 0.5% of the total revenue decline. UK and Republic of Ireland sales de
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: JD Sports in fashion before results
20th Sep 2010 18:02
JD Sports Fashion was sharply higher ahead of tomorrow's half-year results from the trendy sportswear retailer. Elsewhere in retail, Carpetright was in demand but bike and car parts group Halfords was left on the shelf. Insurer Brit Insurance was wanted after Friday's late announcement that the co
Read moreLondon close: Rally falls short
4th Aug 2010 16:50
The FTSE 100 briefly made it into positive territory in the afternoon session but that only lured out more sellers and the blue-chip index closed slightly down on the day. Shares in Next remained in the doghouse all day, not so much because of the performance in the first half of its financial yea
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