Broker snap: Numis sees 25 per cent chance of rival bid for AZ Electronics

Friday 06 Dec 2013

AZ Electronics may on Thursday have agreed to be purchased by German outfit Merck KgaA. However, analysts at Numis believe the bid was unsolicited and unexpected.

London pre-open: Small rebound expected ahead of US jobs report

Friday 06 Dec 2013

Markets are expected to open slightly higher on Friday morning, rebounding after recent losses which have sent the FTSE 100 to an eight-week low, as investors look ahead to some key economic data out from the States this afternoon.

London close: FTSE 100 finishes at eight-week low

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

FTSE 100 at lowest level since October 11th; Autumn Statement, BoE, ECB in focus; Eyes on jobs report ahead of Fed meeting; AZ Electronic soars after 1.6bn-pound offer from Merck.

Sector movers: Chemical stocks gain on Merck-AZ Electronic deal

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

Chemical stocks were the best performers on Thursday on the back of M&A activity in the sector with AZ Electronic Materials (AZEM) rocketing after an offer from German drugs and chemicals giant Merck.

FTSE 250 movers: AZ Electronic Materials gains on Merck takeover

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

AZ Electronic Materials advanced after Merck KGaA agreed to buy the speciality chemicals company for about 1.6bn pounds, a 53 per cent premium to the stock's closing price on Wednesday.

Broker snap: Credit Suisse reiterates underweight on M&S

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

It has been a remarkable year for the General Retail sector, with the UK index´s 33 per cent rise comfortably outstripping gains in the rest of the market. However, 2013 has also seen high single-digit downgrades across the space. That has left valuations (the average price-to earnings multiple sits now at 15 times´ next year´s forecast profit) quite stretched, wrote Credit Suisse on Friday.

Rare Earth Minerals makes new lithium find in Mexico

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

Mining group Rare Earth Minerals (REM) has uncovered new deposits of lithium in Mexico, giving its share price a boost on Thursday afternoon.

Polymetal scraps special divi amidst tough market conditions

Thursday 05 Dec 2013

Russian precious metals producer Polymetal said on Thursday that it has decided not to pay a special dividend for 2013 due to its recent performance and negative commodity market conditions.

Vedanta appoints Chairman of operations review board

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Cairn India, the oil exploration and production company part-owned by Vedanta, on Wednesday unveiled the former chief of BHP Billiton's global petroleum business as Chairman of its operations review board.

Thursday newspaper round-up: Goldman Sachs, Autumn Statement, Shipping

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Goldman Sachs would “drastically reduce” its activities in London and move large numbers of jobs to Frankfurt and Paris if Britain left the European Union, the bank’s co-chief executive in Europe has said. Michael Sherwood, who has warned in the past that London’s role as a leading financial centre would be damaged if Britain quit the EU, went much further than before in revealing how his bank

Broker snap: Panmure downgrades Tesco to 'hold' after Q3 weakness

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Tecso's share price was under continued selling pressure on Thursday after the release of its disappointing three-quarter results the day before, with Panmure Gordon weighing further on the stock after downgrading its rating from 'buy' to 'hold'.

Mulberry first half revenue up but investment hits profit

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Luxury handbag maker Mulberry reported higher UK and international half-year sales but said costs of overseas expansion had hit profit.

Polymetal scraps special divi amidst tough market conditions

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Russian precious metals producer Polymetal said on Thursday that it has decided not to pay a special dividend for 2013 due to its recent performance and negative commodity market conditions.

London midday: Investors brace for upcoming US data releases

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Europe midday: Stocks little changed on mixed economic reports

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

Wednesday 04 Dec 2013

France may be headed back into recession, Italy stagnates, PMIs show

Tuesday 03 Dec 2013

The Markit Eurozone service sector purchasing managers´ index (PMI) for November came in at 51.2 after a reading of 51.6 in the previous month and up from a preliminary print of 50.9.

Broker tips: Standard Chartered, Travis Perkins, Micro Focus

Tuesday 03 Dec 2013

Investec said it sees a “clear positive outlook” for Standard Chartered in 2014 despite the company saying it expects flat annual revenue.