22-03-2012

- PMIs disappoint from China and Eurozone - Miners down on demand concerns, Randgold plummets on Malian military coup - Broker downgrades weigh on stocks

22-03-2012

- PMIs disappoint from China and Eurozone - Miners down on demand concerns, Randgold plummets on Malian military coup - Broker downgrades weigh on stocks

22-03-2012

While Nomura has maintained a bearish view on the UK utilities sector, yesterday's Budget did include a cut in corporation tax leading the broker to upgrade its target prices for utilities under its coverage.

20-03-2012

Investec has cut its recommendation for food and cosmetic goods giant Unilever from buy to hold and cut its target price from 2,170p to 2,100p - the first time it has downgraded the stock in 17 years.

20-03-2012

Nomura has highlighted National Grid and United Utilities as its key picks in the UK utilities sector, but has warned that uncertainties still remain given the current climate and regulatory intervention.

20-03-2012

Aggreko, ARM, Centrica, Cobham, Debenhams, Drax, IPR, Jupiter, Logica, National Grid, Pennon, Regus, Sage, Severn Trent, Spirent, SSE, St James's Place, Unilever, United Utilities

14-02-2012

Water group Pennon said its overall financial performance since 30 September 2011 remains on track to meet management expectations after progress across all of its divisions.

22-12-2011

Kingfisher: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform rating and 310p target.

30-11-2011

Viridor, the UK recycling and waste management firm, has spent £15.75m buying Community Waste Holding Limited and Community Waste Recycling Limited, a recycling and paper trading business based in Milton Keynes.

27-11-2011

The initial market reaction to the Midlands based Severn Trent´s interim results last week was not positive. The group´s revenues rose 2.1% to £886m while pre-tax profit fell 35.4% to £65.3m. However, the water company´s results were hit by several exceptional items and the bulk of the underperformance was within its non-regulated business, highlights the Sunday Telegraph´s Questor team. On the other hand, the firm´s regulated business saw a 4.7% rise in turnover thanks to regulatory allowed price increases. Furthermore, the firm´s dividend policy, for the current regulatory period to 2015, is for it to rise by the retail price index plus 3 percentage points. No less important, Severn´s balance sheet is described as strong and its shares trade at a "certainly good" estimated 2012 dividend yield of 5.2%. That yield however is lower than competitor United Utilities, at 5.6%, while Pennon´s Viridor waste operation has a fantastic growth opportunity. Questor believes that United Utilities and Pennon are "buys" with the rating on Severn being "hold".

25-11-2011

The Times's Tempus column looks at Weir Group, which has taken a significant bet on the gas extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing with its $675mn takeover of Texas firm Seaboard.

24-11-2011

After once again showing signs in the morning session of bringing the losing streak to an end, Footsie once again relapsed in the afternoon session, as investors took fright at German Chancellor Angela Merkel once again banging on about what a bad idea it would be to have common interest rates for all Eurozone sovereign debt issuers.

24-11-2011

As was the case yesterday morning (before it all went downhill in the afternoon session), equities have endured a dull session in London.

24-11-2011

Weir: Peel Hunt upgrades from hold to buy, target cut from 2,100p to 2,000p.

24-11-2011

The Footsie was trading broadly flat early on, swinging between small gains and losses in the opening minutes.

24-11-2011

Dixons Retail: "There was an improved sales and gross margin performance in Q2, with encouraging progress on several key financial metrics including net debt, working capital and inventory. These should go some way to allaying fears on the group's financial position, in our view" [Investec].

24-11-2011

Water group Pennon reported a jump in profits despite business customers cutting back on water usage due to the tight economic climate.

24-11-2011

With Asian indices mixed this morning, and Wall Street closed today for Thanksgiving, the Footsie is expected to open just slightly higher. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 18 points from yesterday's close of 5,140.

02-11-2011

The Independent looks at the media marketing agency Aegis which upped its guidance on profits for 2011 yesterday.

10-10-2011

Antofagasta: Morgan Stanley downgrades to 'underweight' from 'equalweight'.