06-03-2012

Amlin, Ashtead, Avanti, BBA Aviation, Betfair, British Land, CSCG, Chariot, Glencore, Land Secs, Meggitt, National Grid, Petrofac, Polymetal, Pru, Senior, Tate & Lyle, Vodafone, Wolseley, International Power, Pace, Wolseley

15-02-2012

A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.

05-02-2012

For the Questor team at the Sunday Telegraph food-service group Compass has proved that it can weather turbulent times - and still looks good value at current levels. This may be due to the fact that the current crisis plays to the company´s strengths, as both the public and private sectors, globally, try to save costs by outsourcing non-core operations such as catering and cleaning. Furthermore, it is the largest company in the sector and it has a good geographical spread, which in turn increases the defensive nature of the firm. A fifth of its business is in rapidly-developing emerging markets, even if the bulk of it is in North America. Last week's trading update has not resulted in a cycle of consensus earnings forecast upgrades but it has certainly raised the possibility that these could come later in the year. The shares are trading on a September 2012 multiple of 14.5, falling to 13.2 - remaining at a discount to French peer Sodexo, which trades on an August 12 multiple of 17.3, falling to 15.4. Questor sees no reason for this valuation gap, which has been present for some time. The current prospective yield is 3.4% rising to 3.8%. Last tipped at 544p on November 24 last year, the shares are up 15% since then. Buy.

01-02-2012

The Footsie opened in positive territory, rising well above the 5,700 level, after better-than-expected Chinese data and rumours of progress in Greece lifting the mood early on. European markets have opened strongly as investors await Eurozone manufacturing data later this morning.

01-02-2012

Johnson Matthey, the chemicals company, saw sales (excluding precious metal sales) rise by 22% between October and December last year.

26-01-2012

Misys: Panmure Gordon cuts target from 335p to 295p, hold rating unchanged; Peel Hunt puts 250p target under review, hold rating kept; Merchant Securities initiates coverage with sell rating and 220p target.

02-12-2011

A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.

30-11-2011

Much has changed since the Independent's Investment Column looked at spread betting firm IG Group. For one thing, the economic outlook has turned darker, making IG's chunky prospective dividend yield of 5% (and higher on some estimates) look that much more attractive, the Indy reckons. The income, and the quality of the UK business, suddenly appears more valuable in light of the weaker trends in the global economy. Rising revenues in uncertain times, a quality franchise and a healthy dividend yield at a time when earnings across all manner of sectors are in question - make IG look like a good bet. At around 12 times forward earnings for next year, falling to under 11 times for the year after, IG is not expensive either. Take a punt on the shares, says the Indy.

29-11-2011

The timing is auspicious for Senior's purchase of Airbus-parts supplier Weston, as the market for large commercial aircraft is just starting to take off, notes Tempus in The Times. The deal, at £54m, or the equivalent of one year's sales or eight times' annual earnings, might look an expensive one, but otherwise it ticks all the right boxes, and reduces Senior's dependence on Boeing as a major customer. Senior shares have had a good run over the past couple of years and had added another 2¾p to 165p by last night. They sell on about 11 times' earnings, which does not look overly cheap, but they remain among the better-placed in their sector.

25-11-2011

Atkins WS: UBS reiterates neutral, raises price target to 600p from 560p.

24-11-2011

In May 2010 QinetiQ started a two-year turnaround programme that would see the UK workforce cut by 10-15%, but contract delays in the British and US defence markets have continued since then, writes the Tempus column in the Times. "Yesterday's halfway figures, though sharply ahead of market expectations, managed to coincide with the stalemate on Capitol Hill over the US budget deficit that could well put further downward pressure on American defence spending," Martin Waller says.

23-11-2011

After an uneventful morning session that came as a relief after the turbulent events of recent days, shares turtned sharply lower in the afternoon session, as US markets took a bath.

23-11-2011

Specialist chemicals firm Johnson Matthey reported six month earnings ahead of market estimates and has hiked its dividend.

23-11-2011

It has been a comfortingly dull morning session in London after all the excitement of recent weeks, though there is no sign of Footsie bringing an end to its losing streak, though its cause is not helped by the index constituents Man, Next and Standard Life trading in ex-dividend form.

23-11-2011

The Footsie fell below the 5,200 level early on, as some gloomy data from China dampened the mood.

22-11-2011

Contract caterer Compass brings out full-year figures on Wednesday, with the market expecting profits before tax to burst through the billion pounds barrier.

28-09-2011

Burberrys: Alpha Value upgrades to ´reduce´ from ´sell.

27-07-2011

A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.

19-07-2011

Stocks are edging higher after a tough day yesterday when concerns over European and US sovereign debt sent traders rushing for the exits.

21-07-2011

There is a strong sense that the London Stock Exchange is not sure where to go next after the unexpected failure of its merger with TMX, of Canada. I do not believe that the LSE will be bid for by anyone. This leaves its shares at the top end of their trading range, up 33½p at £10.30½p yesterday and on about 13 times' this year's earnings. Unless you believe that a bid is in prospect, taking a bit of profit looks sensible, says the Times's Martin Waller.