Wetherspoon to create 10,000 new jobs
1st Dec 2009 15:08
Pubs chain JD Wetherspoon plans to create 10,000 jobs over the next five years with the opening of 250 new pubs. The group expects to open new pubs across the UK, including Sheffield, Livingston, Leominster, Otley, New Malden, Liverpool, Haverfordwest and Newcastle. New jobs will be created in man
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Water firms gush higher
26th Nov 2009 12:15
Water group Northumbrian gushes higher after Ofwat said it can raise annual bills by £17 to £331 over the next five years, having previously indicated it would only allow a £3 rise. Peer Pennon is also higher. Sticking with liquids, shares in Irn-Bru maker Barr and Tango firm Britvic are fizzing a
Read moreLondon close: Footsie gleams on commodity strength
4th Nov 2009 16:18
A rush into miners, triple-digit rally on Wall Street and welcome numbers from two of Britain's largest retailers catapulted London higher Wednesday. Fresnillo took the blue chip risers' crown, up sharply as renewed dollar weakness benefited commodity prices. Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto also
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains extended
4th Nov 2009 14:19
Expectations of a firmer start on Wall Street encouraged UK blue-chip prices to kick on over the lunch-time session, with miners and stores still leading the way, In the head to head battle between M&S and Next, shares in the latter are performing slightly better after the fashion chain upped its g
Read moreBroker tips: Cadbury, Wetherspoon, FirstGroup
4th Nov 2009 13:09
The share price of Crème Egg maker Cadbury was looking a little runny on Wednesday morning as hopes of US predator Kraft Foods upping the terms of its proposed offer for the UK company faded. The US company announced a dip in third quarter earnings after the bell yesterday and lowered its full-year
Read moreLondon midday: London enjoys retail therapy
4th Nov 2009 12:05
Retail news dominated the morning trading session with well received results from two major retailers plus a cautiously upbeat trading update from shopping centre owner Liberty. High street giant Marks & Spencer produced interim results right at the top of expectations, with underlying profits risi
Read moreBroker snap: Views differ on Wetherspoon
4th Nov 2009 12:02
Charles Stanley has reiterated its 'buy' recommendation for JD Wetherspoon after the pub group's trading statement. The cut price food and booze pub group released what the broker described as 'an upbeat trading statement' with like for like (LFL) sales in the 13 weeks to 25 October up 0.3% year on
Read moreLondon open: Retailers brighten the mood
4th Nov 2009 08:51
Good news from two major retailers has boosted sentiment with a late rally on Wall Street also helping the mood. High street giant Marks & Spencer produced interim results right at the top of expectations, with underlying profits rising slightly as food sales improved for a fourth quarter in a row
Read moreWetherspoon LFL sales up 0.3%
4th Nov 2009 07:20
Cut price food and booze pubs group JD Wetherspoon reported a 0.3% rise in like-for-like sales in the first quarter and said it remains confident of the company's prospects for the full year. Total sales in the 13 week period ending 25 October increased by 4.5%. The same period last year involved a
Read moreLondon pre-open: Marks sparks rally
4th Nov 2009 06:57
The firmer trend of yesterday afternoon is expected to continue at the outset today, with good news from two major retailers also boosting sentiment. Traders expect the FTSE 100 to open some 33 points higher at 5,070. High street giant Marks & Spencer produced interim results right at the top of
Read moreWednesday preview: M&S, Next, Firstgroup
3rd Nov 2009 16:20
The Investor Day presentation by High Street giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) on 13 October backfired, with investment analysts underwhelmed by the presentations from senior executives, some of whom are jostling for position in the contest to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive officer next year.
Read moreBroker tips: Pub groups, Barratt, Atkins
23rd Sep 2009 11:03
Swiss bank UBS has called time on a gaggle of big pub groups, claiming the share prices have risen too far on a heady cocktail of improving consumer sentiment, England's qualification for the World Cup and changes to the rules on pub gaming machine stakes and prizes. UBS reckons the share prices of
Read moreBroker snap: UBS swears off pub groups
23rd Sep 2009 10:49
Swiss bank UBS has called time on a gaggle of big pub groups, claiming the share prices have risen too far on a heady cocktail of improving consumer sentiment, England's qualification for the World Cup and changes to the rules on pub gaming machine stakes and prizes. UBS reckons the share prices of
Read moreBroker tips: Johnson Matthey, JD Wetherspoon, Tarsus
14th Sep 2009 12:30
Shares in speciality chemicals group Johnson Matthey fell back after Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating on the stock to 'equal-weight' from 'overweight.' The broker raises its price target on the firm to 1,450p from 1,400p, but sees little upside potential beyond this. It says its downgrade of
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure lifts Wetherspoon estimates
14th Sep 2009 11:41
Panmure Gordon has upgraded its earnings forecasts for JD Wetherspoon after the pub group announced better than expected full year results last week. Although the broker has a 'buy' recommendation on the stock its profit before tax forecasts for fiscal 2010 and 2011 were below market consensus; Pan
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