BEST OF THE BROKERS January 28, 2010 PUNCH Merrill Lynch selects Punch as one of its top pub picks for 2010. It notes that peer Enterprise, its other top pick, recently posted a much improved trading update, and expects Punch to follow suit in early March. Reiterates its “buy” rating, adding that valuations across the sector look “attractive”. HSBC UBS reiterates its [...]
THE TIPSTER January 24, 2010 US PRESIDENT Obama’s plans for the banking sector are expected to continue to dominate this week and put further pressure on banks’ share prices across the world. This might make it well worth taking a short out on the UK banking sector. IG Index is offering a spread of 4,466-4,486. But downward pressure on share [...]
Supermarket boom will continue April 19, 2010 WHILE retailers on the high-street have been struggling with adverse weather conditions and consumers cutting back on spending during a downturn, their supermarket counterparts have been going from strength to strength. Giant grocer Tesco has seen its share price rise 10 per cent over the past six months and today’s full-year results are expected to [...]
Borders in emergency talks November 23, 2009 High street books and CD chain Borders is holding emergency rescue talks as it fights to stay in business. The group, which also includes the Books Etc brand, is understood to be in discussions with firms including Waterstones’ parent HMV as fears mount it could be forced to call in administrators this week. WH Smith [...]
WH Smith sales better than hoped June 4, 2009 WH Smith, the British newspaper, books and stationery retailer, reported a better than expected four per cent fall in underlying third quarter sales yesterday and said it was confident of its full-year prospects. The group, which trades from 557 high street stores across the UK, said sales at stores in its town centre businesses open [...]
Borders in talks to sell off more stores November 22, 2009 BORDERS, the ailing bookseller, was showing further signs of floundering yesterday, as it entered into rescue talks and looked to sell off further stores. As the threat of failure looms, the private equity-backed retailer is understood to be in talks with record store HMV and stationers WH Smith to buy up its stores. Borders wants [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS October 19, 2009 LAIRDKBC Peel Hunt upgraded Laird to “buy” from “hold” ahead of next week’s first half management statement. The broker has concluded there are potential upgrades to its forecasts based on restocking trends, high incremental profit drop-through and entry into a period of easier year-on-year comparatives.WH SMITHInvestec said that WH Smith’s expansion of its Travel division [...]
Sir Stuart again failed to tell the City his succession plans November 4, 2009 ONE of the most hotly-debated succession sagas looks set to keep on rolling as M&S yesterday shunned questions about how the search for Sir Stuart Rose’s successor was progressing. Rose furiously batted away questions on the M&S’s succession plans, despite it being a concern weighing heavily on many analysts’ minds. “I’m not answering questions on [...]
THE TIPSTER CHRISTMAS HAS ARRIVED EARLY IN THE MARKETS November 16, 2009 THE FTSE 100 smashed through 5,300 yesterday, rising 86 points to close at 5,382.67. For weeks the blue-chip index had been struggling to get through this resistance level but yesterday, it was firmly back on the upward trend. Has the traditional Santa rally started early? If so, the next target level would be the 5,500 [...]
Travis Perkins remains cautious about next year as says no signs of recovery September 30, 2009 BUILDERS’ merchant and home improvements group Travis Perkins yesterday said group nine-month turnover fell 11 per cent, as volumes showed no sustained improvement and pricing pressure persisted. However, the group, which has branches across the UK under Travis Perkins, Wickes and other brands, said trading for the past three months was ahead of its expectations. [...]