13-05-2012

Pump and valves specialist Weir Group has been a favourite of the bears this year on concerns the low US natural gas price would crimp orders for equipment for the shale gas industry. The boom in fracking and shale gas production has resulted in a glut of gas in the US - and it does not yet have the infrastructure to support exports. This has resulted in producers reining in gas developments. However, 32 per cent of total revenues in 2011 were generated by the oil and gas unit - and not all of these orders related to US shale. Last week's trading update revealed that orders in oil and gas slumped 26 per cent on a like-for-like basis in the first quarter. However, order input at its minerals division rose 18 per cent, which was ahead of expectations. Power and Industrial orders were also strong, up 35 per cent, or 27 per cent on a like-for-like basis. This meant the group maintained its full-year guidance. Questor feels very strongly that the long-term prospects of Weir outweigh the short-term issues in some of its markets. Each of its sectors is in a long-term bull market as the global population rises and demand for energy and basic materials rises. For that reason it concludes by saying that, "Questor maintains a buy on this quality company."

10-05-2012

Nomura has maintained its buy recommendation and 295p target price for telecoms titan BT, saying that while fourth-quarter revenues were soft, earnings, free cash flow and guidance were strong.

10-05-2012

Credit Suisse has slashed its target price for engineering group Weir by over a quarter following this week's first-quarter statement.

10-05-2012

Abcam, Aveva, BAE, BT, Croda, Derwent, Experian, G4S, IHG, Old Mutual, Pendragon, Sage, SuperGroup, Weir

09-05-2012

- Greek politics weighs on sentiment - Merkel tells Greece to stick to austerity - Sage, Weir fall heavily after updates

09-05-2012

Terrestrial broadcaster ITV was performing well after saying that its first-half net advertising revenues will be ahead of the market, thanks to an expected boost from the Euro 2012 football tournament. Revenues at Broadcasting & Online edged up a mere 1% to £440m in the first three months of 2012 from £436m the year before, but ITV Studios' performance had a lot more pep, with its revenues surging 61% to £212m from £132m.

09-05-2012

- Weir and Sage fall heavily - ITV, Sainsbury, Glencore higher after updates - Footsie hits new YTD lows on euro concerns

09-05-2012

- Eurozone political uncertainty still ongoing - ITV, Sainsbury, Glencore wanted after updates - Weir and Sage fall sharply

09-05-2012

Engineering giant Weir Group said that strong first quarter trading in its minerals and industrial businesses made up for a plunge in orders in its oil and gas division.

30-04-2012

- Chicago PMI, US consumer spending disappoints - Spain joins the UK in recession - Global stock markets in the red

30-04-2012

The volatility in the share price of hedge fund manager Man Group has continued on Monday, with the stock extending recent losses ahead of its first-quarter update due tomorrow.

30-04-2012

- Spain joins the UK in recession - Man Group volatile ahead of Q1 IMS - Aberdeen up after solid first half

30-04-2012

- Aberdeen leads risers after solid first half - Randgold falls after broker downgrade - Spain focus ahead of Thursday's bond auction

30-04-2012

Engineering giant Weir has today announced the launch of new products by its Oil and Gas division which are expected to expand its addressable market by over 500m dollars.

13-04-2012

The Times' Tempus column this morning looks at temporary power and temperature control solutions group Aggreko, saying that the 'power surge has no end in sight'. Tempus says that the exponential growth over the past five year has continued into the first quarter of 2012, with the group reporting yesterday that both divisions delivered underlying revenues increases of over 20 per cent.

30-03-2012

- Eurozone to boost firewall to 800bn euros - Spain cuts 27bn euros from the budget - Petrofac up after broker comments, Shire leads the fallers

30-03-2012

Industrial engineers were on the rise, with Weir leading the way in the top spot.

30-03-2012

- Investors keep a close eye on meeting in Copenhagen - Eurozone inflation falls but still high - Miners lead the rise by lunchtime

28-03-2012

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

27-03-2012

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