Best of the Brokers for 15 November 2013
ITV PLC
Westhouse Securities reiterates its ‘add’ rating on ITV ahead of next week’s interim results. Expects “robust” figures due to the mounting evidence of an upturn in UK media spend and the “increasing breadth” of its content, which it says should fuel underlying dividend growth.
ICAP
Numis reiterates its ‘sell’ rating on Icap and downgrades its earnings per share forecast following the interdealer broker’s interim results. It sees the shares as “unattractive” until the regulatory and litigation issues hanging over the firm are resolved.
SALAMANDER ENERGY
Canaccord Genuity upgrades oil & gas firm Salamander Energy to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ with a 130p target. Says the shares offer a better risk/reward balance as they are trading in line with the sector, despite what it sees as a number of “potentially exciting catalysts” to push them higher.