BEST OF THE BROKERS June 17, 2009 HOLIDAYBREAKKBC Peel Hunt decreased its price target for Holidaybreak from 390p to 384p but retained its “buy” recommendation. The broker said that the firm’s rights issue to fund expansion and accelerate development of its educational business books is well timed and could transform the group, even leading to a re-rating. NATIONAL EXPRESSCollins Stewart downgraded its [...]
Confidence wavers but the drug makers have the cure June 17, 2009 RECENT confidence of a quick global economic recovery wavered yesterday, with commodity stocks down on weaker raw material prices but pharmaceuticals and telecoms gaining. “The bulls have lost their swagger and after a week long stalemate, the bears appear to be winning the recovery debate. Financial markets have now broken out of last week’s unusually [...]
Tesco sells mortgage bond June 17, 2009 There was good news for the global securitisation market yesterday when the supermarket Tesco sold £431m of commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) supported by rental income from 12 of its UK stores and two distribution warehouses. The size of the deal, which was three times subscribed, was slightly above initial plans to sell £416m of bonds. [...]
Tesco upbeat as sales meet expectations June 16, 2009 TESCO, Britain’s largest retailer, yesterday said it had made a “solid start” to the year, reporting a 4.3 per cent rise in first quarter like-for-like sales at its UK stores. The giant supermarket chain reported a higher sales lift for the 13 weeks ending 30 May than it did in the previous quarter, but its [...]
DOES TESCO’S FIRST QUARTER GROWTH MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS? June 16, 2009 RICHARD HUNTER HARGREAVES LANSDOWN“The headlines have tended to centre on Tesco’s loss of market share, as opposed to the progress it is making. Its international businesses in particular continue to bolster overall performance, contributing a 20 per cent rise in sales over the period. But the growing intensity of competition is not likely to abate.” [...]
Economy fears hit oil, miners and banks but defensives fly June 16, 2009 THE FTSE 100 closed 0.1 per cent higher yesterday, recovering only a small part of Monday’s sharp falls as strength in defensive stocks was countered by falls in oils, miners, and banks. At the close the FTSE 100 was up 2.56 points at 4,328.57, rallying slightly after hitting a six-week closing low on Monday when [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 15, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMESBLU-RAY SALES FAIL TO OFFSET DECLINE OF DVDHollywood’s expensive bet on Blu-ray technology has failed to prevent a sharp decline in home entertainment sales, dealing a blow to the film industry as it grapples with the global economic downturn. The industry’s revenues fell by more than $2.6bn in 2008 as sales of standard DVDs [...]
Metals lose their shine and oil slips on the strong dollar June 15, 2009 LOWER commodities stocks and the firm dollar took the FTSE 100 lower yesterday, losing 2.6 per cent, or 115.94 points, to close at 4,326.01. Volumes were about 76 per cent of its 90-day average daily volume, but the index has risen 25 percent since hitting a six-year low on 9 March. “The fundamentals of the [...]
Retail giants set for battle June 14, 2009 SUPERMARKET heavyweights Tesco and J Sainsbury are set to battle it out this week for retail supremacy, when they both announce sales results for the past quarter. Tomorrow, Tesco is expected to report an underlying rise in sales of between 4 and 4.5 per cent, lagging behind J Sainsbury’s predicted 7 per cent growth. Tesco, [...]
Consumer-related stocks to shed some light on spending June 14, 2009 RETAILERS will be very much in the spotlight again this week, with trading updates expected from the great and good of the supermarket world and retail sales data expected to shed more light on the high street picture. Tesco will get the ball rolling tomorrow when it releases its first quarter sales data, but is [...]