Best of the Brokers for 22 August 2013 August 21, 2013 J MENZIES Panmure has started covering the publishing distributor and aviation services group with a ‘buy’ rating and 877p target. The broker thinks the shares will benefit from aviation growth. BHP BILLITON UBS reiterates its ‘buy’ rating and raises its target price to 2,180p on the natural resources firm. The broker remains keen on the [...]
BHP Billiton pins long term hopes on potash plans as earnings fall August 20, 2013 FTSE 100-listed BHP Billiton’s shares dropped over three per cent in early trading yesterday, after the miner unveiled a 16 per cent decline in full-year earnings. Underlying earnings fell to $28.4bn (£18.1bn) and revenue dropped by 8.7 per cent to $66bn for the year ended 30 June, hit by dwindling commodity prices and a slowdown [...]
Bottom Line: Mining shares set for rollercoaster ride August 20, 2013 AS EVER, mining stocks yesterday gave a pretty clear picture of how investors were feeling. But this time – in addition to the ever-present spectre of Fed uncertainty and slowdown in Chinese material demands – there were more tangible reasons for their concern. BHP Billiton and Glencore Xstrata fell 1.7 per cent and 1.6 per cent [...]
London Report: Weak earnings reports fuel drop in FTSE shares August 20, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index edged lower yesterday as gloomy earnings reports fuelled profit-taking on some basic material and energy stocks and investors cut positions in expectation of less US monetary stimulus. Shares in miners BHP Billiton and Glencore Xstrata fell 1.7 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively as the former announced a lower-than-expected profit [...]
BHP optimistic for the longer term outlook as profits fall August 20, 2013 Mining giant BHP Billiton has reported a 15 per cent fall in profit and a 30 per cent fall in earnings per share for the first half of the year (release). Earnings per share fell to 204.4 cents (130.6p) from 289.6 cents – less than half the 429.1 cents reported in 2011. In the face [...]
A Range Rover that is truly sporty August 19, 2013 It’s the fastest, most agile SUV the manufacturer has ever built. We put it through its paces… in a jumbo jet They’re known for coming up with imaginative off-road courses, but the Land Rover Experience guys have outdone themselves this time. It’s fantastically silly. I’m driving the new Range Rover Sport SDV6 model up an [...]
Not convinced? August 19, 2013 HERE ARE THE ALTERNATIVES BMW X5 £60,830 The X5 xDrive M50d SUV model is BMW’s rival to the Range Rover Sport. Powered by a V6 diesel engine, it has an impressive power output of 381bhp but it’s a good deal faster with a spritely 0 to 62mph acceleration time of just 5.4 seconds. Its fuel [...]
BHP reveals more details of corruption investigation August 16, 2013 Multinational mining company BHP Billiton has released a statement regarding the potential legal action it is facing from US authorities over a possible breach of anti-corruption laws. BHP has previously disclosed it is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding now-terminated exploration and development efforts, as well as hospitality provided as part of [...]
Not convinced? August 12, 2013 HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES Kia Proceed, £20,595 The 1.6-litre diesel Kia Proceed costs less than the Leon SC but it can’t match it for power and performance. It takes 10.5 seconds to reach 62mph and its top speed is a comparatively pedestrian 122mph. Its economy and CO2 emissions also compare unfavourably (65.7mpg (combined) and 112g/km). [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 12 August 2013 August 11, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Air alliances rule out Heathrow move The world’s biggest airlines have ruled out moving from Heathrow to another UK airport, bolstering the chances of a highly contentious third runway being built at Europe’s busiest hub. All three global airline alliances have said they want to stay, even though some options being considered by [...]