Wetherspoon year sales up
15th Jul 2009 07:01
Pub group JD Wetherspoon said like-for-like sales in the 50 weeks to July increased 1.2% and added that it was "optimistic" about its prospects for the new year. In the financial year-to-date (50 weeks to 12th July 2009), like-for-like sales increased 1.2% and overall sales rose 5.2% thanks to en
Read moreWednesday preview: ICAP, Burberry, JD Wetherspoon
14th Jul 2009 17:49
Inter-dealer broker ICAP's share price is trading at around twice the level it was back on 9 March, suggesting it has benefited from the revival in global stock markets since that date. Those markets have largely been moving sideways for the last two months, however, and ICAP's interim management
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Aquarius shines on acquisition approval
14th Jul 2009 10:35
Shares in Aquarius Platinum are going well after it announced its acquisition of fellow platinum miner Ridge was approved by 99.99% of Aquarius shareholders. Engineering conglomerate Melrose climbs after saying it is trading in line with expectations for the full year and said cash generation durin
Read moreWeek Ahead: Pub groups, Burberry Group
10th Jul 2009 11:31
A number of pub groups are releasing trading statements in the week starting 12 July, including JD Wetherspoon, Enterprise Inns and Mitchells & Butlers. All three will have welcomed the recent hot weather in the UK when temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius, which is sure to have boosted sal
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Investors show thirst for pubs
2nd Jul 2009 13:40
Pubs and brewers were very much in focus Thursday after Greene King profits beat forecasts and it said sales were up at the start of its new financial year. Profit before tax and exceptional items for the 52 weeks ended 3 May fell 15% from the previous year to £118.5m, but that was ahead of the £11
Read moreLondon close: Lacklustre Footsie in late fall
23rd Jun 2009 16:44
Footsie slipped into the red in late trading Tuesday having sat just above the zero mark for most of the day on a lacklustre day's trading. Information conglomerate Thomson-Reuters moved up after it confirmed it is to delist from the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, while retaining its listings on
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners provide a lift
23rd Jun 2009 14:15
London remains moderately firmer, helped by expectations of a similarly gentle upward shift on Wall Street when the US market opens and the strength of mining stocks. Information conglomerate Thomson-Reuters is on the upturn after it confirmed it is to delist from the London Stock Exchange and NASD
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: JD Wetherspoon fizzing after upgrade
23rd Jun 2009 13:25
Investors have raised a glass to JD Wetherspoon after Morgan Stanley lifted its rating on the pub group to 'overweight' from 'underweight', after falls in the company's share price lately. Rival pub group Marston's is unwanted though. Military decoy specialist Chemring is going well after it saw ha
Read moreBroker tips: Thomson Reuters, Legal & General, JD Wetherspoon
23rd Jun 2009 12:39
The decision by Thomson Reuters to can its London listing may have been triggered by management's frustration in the persistent discount at which the shares trade to their NYSE-listed counterparts, Charles Stanley believes. Since announcing the decision to unify its dual listed company structure Lo
Read moreBroker snap: Wetherspoon a "long-term winner"
23rd Jun 2009 12:38
Morgan Stanley sees pub group JD Wetherspoon as a "long-term winner" in the pub sector and reckons the slide in the company's share price since mid-April offers the opportunity to get a round of shares in at a good price. "With the shares off 18% in the last three months, we think the refinancing r
Read moreLondon close: Triple digit fall for Footsie
15th Jun 2009 17:09
Footsie suffered a triple digit fall today with virtually all blue-chip stocks except defensive favourites such as utilities having their foot jammed hard down on the reverse pedal. Resource stocks led the decline as metals and oil prices moved lower. Platinum miner Lonmin was the weakest stock in
Read moreLondon close: Jittery Footsie finishes lower
20th May 2009 16:36
Footsie failed to sustain a slight rally that came after a positive US opening and finished in the red after an indecisive day's trading. Miners Lonmin, Rio Tinto, Vedanta, Randgold, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys all went well, while silver and gold producer Fresnillo was wanted after it said it has su
Read moreLondon afternoon: Wall St. sparks London rally
20th May 2009 14:49
A buoyant opening on Wall Street has encouraged UK shares to claw back the morning's losses and the FTSE 100 is now virtually back up to its overnight level. Banks are leading the revival, with Lonmin, Rio Tinto, Vedanta, Randgold, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys all going well, while silver and gold pro
Read moreBroker tips: Experian, pub groups, Debenhams
20th May 2009 12:40
Credit checking group Experian's own credit-worthiness is looking better after the company surprised the market with the amount of cash it generated in the second half of its financial year. Broker Charles Stanley said the pre-tax profits of $843m were ahead of market consensus of $805m, but 'the b
Read moreLondon midday: Financials drag Footsie down
20th May 2009 12:01
Leading shares remain mixed with the Footsie in negative territory thanks, in part, to weak performance by financial stocks. The share price of Lloyds Banking Group has been adjusted to take into account the fact that the shares no longer carry the right to participate in the group's compensatory o
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