Stockwatch: A recovery play and takeover target March 8, 2019 By Edmond Jackson from interactive investor Persistent director buying implies long-term value at this well-known firm, argues our shares analyst. Have shares in £260 million price comparison website Gocompare.com (LSE:GOCO) finally bottomed out? Four non-executive directors appear to think so, buying nearly £44,000 worth of stock at around 65p once the company was out of [...]
Direct Line operating profits slip as it warns on impact of no-deal Brexit March 5, 2019 Direct Line posted a fall in full-year earnings this morning, with the blue-chip insurer striking a cautious tone over threats of a "disruptive Brexit". In outgoing boss Paul Geddes’ final annual results statement for Britain's largest motor insurer, operating profits dipped during the 12 months and the total dividend payout was slashed. "The increased focus on [...]
Are Centrica shares a buy at 20-year low? February 24, 2019 At prices not seen since 1999, a 10 per cent dividend yield appears tempting, but it's not that straightforward. Two years ago, Centrica (LSE:CNA) shares were worth over 230p. Today they dived 12 per cent to just 120p. Last time they were that low you could have bought a loaf of bread for 51p* and Shanks & [...]
Ofgem price cap: What to do if your energy bills shoot up February 21, 2019 Around 11m customers are facing higher energy bills from April, as SSE became the last of the Big Six energy suppliers to hike tariffs this morning. The energy firms have said that they need to put up prices as they are squeezed by higher wholesale costs. Read more: Households told to cough up as Ofgem [...]
Electric avenue: SSE becomes last Big Six supplier to hike energy prices after Ofgem price cap rise February 21, 2019 The energy market completed the set this morning as supplier SSE became the last of the Big Six to say it will hike prices. The move comes exactly two weeks since Ofgem increased the rate which suppliers are allowed to charge customers on default tariffs for their energy. Read more: Ofgem price cap: What to [...]
Government will miss smart meter targets, MPs say February 21, 2019 The government will not reach its target of installing smart meters in every home in the UK by the end of 2020, MPs have warned, after a string of setbacks hit the initiative. Meanwhile, northern customers are helping to pay for meters many of them will never see, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select [...]
Congo cobalt mine takes chunk out of mining giant Glencore’s full-year earnings February 20, 2019 Mining giant Glencore’s shares were on the up this morning as it announced rising adjusted profits, despite missing analyst estimates and taking a huge 41 per cent hit net income hit from costs relating to its copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The firm also announced a $2bn (£1.53bn) share [...]
Five of the Big Six energy providers announce price hikes following Ofgem cap increase February 19, 2019 Five of the UK's Big Six energy suppliers have increased their prices following Ofgem's move to raise the energy price cap. Scottish Power today became the fifth of the major players to announce price increases, coming on the back of British Gas's decision this morning and Npower, Eon and EDF last week. The move leaves [...]
British Gas the fourth of the Big Six energy suppliers to boost prices after Ofgem’s price cap February 19, 2019 British Gas, the country's biggest energy supplier, becomes the fourth of the Big Six energy companies to raise its prices after Ofgem, the energy regulator, increased the price cap on gas and electricity bills. Customers of British Gas can expect the standard variable tariff to increase by £117 for 3.5m customers starting 1 April. Stephen Murray, [...]
Let America’s radical socialists be a warning to British politics February 12, 2019 It is said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. Let us hope that the American left’s recent publication of its “Green New Deal” (GND) won’t be contagious enough to infect Labour here. Just over a week ago, Jeremy Corbyn had an in-depth phone conversation with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the rising socialist congresswoman. The aim, it [...]