REMINDER: Our user survey closes on Friday, please submit your responses here

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE
Chris Heminway, Exec-Chair at Time To ACT, explains why now is the right time for the Group to IPO
Chris Heminway, Exec-Chair at Time To ACT, explains why now is the right time for the Group to IPOView Video
Stephan Bernstein, CEO of GreenRoc, details the PFS results for the new graphite processing plant
Stephan Bernstein, CEO of GreenRoc, details the PFS results for the new graphite processing plantView Video

Latest Share Chat

Pin to quick picksGOG.L Share News (GOG)

  • There is currently no data for GOG

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

London midday: Footsie flat as AstraZeneca provides a drag

Thu, 26th Apr 2012 11:51

- Footsie flat after strong start- AstraZeneca drops after disappointing first-quarter results- Domestic economic data comes in mixedAfter a strong rise early on, the FTSE 100 had erased gains to trade broadly flat by lunchtime after a mixed reception to a barrage of company results and trading updates.In domestic news, net lending to companies fell by £3bn in March, according to the latest figures from the British Bankers Association (BBA). This was much a bigger drop than usual, with the six-month average showing a contraction of £0.9bn in lending.Consumer confidence hit a nine-month high in March, according to a survey out on Thursday. The Consumer Confidence Index from the Nationwide Building Society registered 53, seven points higher than at the same time last year. However, the index remains well below its long term average of 76. Markets were also reacting to last night's comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who said that monetary policy in the US was "more or less in the right place". "The Committee expects economic growth to remain moderate over coming quarters and then to pick up gradually," according to the Federal Open Market Committee statement. FTSE 100: Astra drops after cutting EPS guidance Pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca tanked this morning after first-quarter revenues fell 11% year-on-year, missing consensus estimates by 8%. While core earnings per share (EPS) came in above forecasts, the group lowered its full-year guidance range by 2.4% at the mid-point. The firm also announced that Chief Executive David Brennan would retire in June.Car insurer Admiral fell after saying that UK policy growth was at the lower-end of targets. Nevertheless, first-quarter group turnover rose 9% to £586m from £539m in the first quarter of last year.Speciality chemicals manufacturer Croda International was out of favour despite saying it has achieved record results in the first quarter of 2012.Mining and power generation group Kazakhmys was lower after severe weather and transportation issues adversely affected copper cathode output in the first quarter of 2012. UK lender Barclays initially started the session in the blue but a cautious outlook statement prompted a fall into the red by midday. While adjusted pre-tax profits beat expectations in the first quarter, the group said that "the continued challenging market conditions mean it is too early to establish the trend for the year". Meanwhile leading the upside was coffee shops, restaurants and hotels operator Whitbread which topped expectations with full-year profits and sales, with the Costa Coffee chain once again driving growth. Oil and gas titan Royal Dutch Shell was in demand after its upstream activities drove a bigger-than-expected increase in the Anglo-Dutch group's first quarter earnings. Consumer goods giant Unilever rose after saying it had a good start to the year and was on track to hit its full year targets, with turnover increasing by 11.9% in the first quarter. FTSE 250: Elementis, Howden lead risersChemicals group Elementis was a strong performer after saying it is on track to hit full-year earnings forecasts with trading in the first three months of 2012 ahead of same period last year.Howden Joinery jumped after saying UK revenue was up 5.9% in the first 16 weeks of 2012 and increased 4% on a same depot basis despite challenging market conditions. ??House builder Taylor Wimpey rose after saying the UK housing market conditions remain stable and it is trading at the upper end of company expectations. ??Bus and trains operator Go-Ahead Group edged higher after reporting a solid first quarter, with growth seen in both parts of the business, leaving it on track to meet full year expectations. FTSE 100 - RisersWeir Group (WEIR) 1,728.00p +4.10%Whitbread (WTB) 1,879.00p +3.87%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,540.00p +3.65%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,262.00p +3.33%Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 2,194.50p +3.12%Unilever (ULVR) 2,140.00p +2.93%Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,539.00p +1.85%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 687.00p +1.63%BP (BP.) 439.30p +1.62%ITV (ITV) 86.85p +1.46%FTSE 100 - FallersAstraZeneca (AZN) 2,682.50p -5.58%Admiral Group (ADM) 1,192.00p -3.17%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,195.00p -2.45%Croda International (CRDA) 2,204.00p -2.39%Evraz (EVR) 367.00p -2.29%Aviva (AV.) 311.80p -1.95%Reed Elsevier (REL) 503.00p -1.85%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 270.80p -1.71%CRH (CRH) 1,222.00p -1.61%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 171.40p -1.55%FTSE 250 - RisersElementis (ELM) 208.80p +5.72%Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 123.70p +5.10%Essar Energy (ESSR) 130.50p +3.49%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 50.35p +3.47%Senior (SNR) 210.10p +3.29%Spirit Pub Company (SPRT) 54.75p +2.82%Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,252.00p +2.71%Big Yellow Group (BYG) 288.00p +2.49%Provident Financial (PFG) 1,146.00p +2.32%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 132.20p +2.24%FTSE 250 - FallersChemring Group (CHG) 324.70p -4.22%Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 179.90p -4.05%JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 787.50p -2.72%Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 257.20p -2.58%Cobham (COB) 232.60p -2.39%Henderson Group (HGG) 119.60p -2.29%Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) 415.00p -2.26%Rentokil Initial (RTO) 87.55p -2.07%St James's Place (STJ) 337.60p -2.06%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 50.90p -1.93%BC
More News
16 Jun 2021 05:50

Rail firms blast UK plan to cut taxes on domestic flights

Rail firms blast UK plan to cut taxes on domestic flights

Read more
10 Jun 2021 11:24

Go-Ahead outlook improves amid surging passenger demand for travel

Go-Ahead outlook improves amid surging passenger demand for travel

Read more
10 Jun 2021 07:57

Go-Ahead ups outlook as passengers return to buses

(Sharecast News) - Go-Ahead said passengers were returning to its buses as lockdown restrictions eased and the company upgraded its financial outlook for the current year.

Read more
3 Jun 2021 15:51

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

Read more
26 May 2021 11:49

Go-Ahead CEO David Brown to retire at end of 2021 after 10 years

Go-Ahead CEO David Brown to retire at end of 2021 after 10 years

Read more
26 May 2021 10:14

Go-Ahead boss announces retirement

(Sharecast News) - Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown is to step down after a decade in the role, the bus and rail operator said on Wednesday.

Read more
26 May 2021 07:09

Go-Ahead CEO David Brown to retire at the end of the year

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - British rail and bus operator Go-Ahead said on Wednesday its chief executive David Brown planned to retire at the end of this year after 10 years in the role, and that it had started a process to find his replacement.Br...

Read more
13 May 2021 13:08

Thursday broker round-up

(Sharecast News) - Hargreaves Lansdown: Numis downgrades to add with a target price of 2,019p.

Read more
13 May 2021 10:45

Canaccord hikes target price on Go-Ahead

(Sharecast News) - Analysts at Canaccord Genuity hiked their target price on public transport operator Go-Ahead Group from 1,135.0p to 1,540.0p on Thursday, stating the group was now in the process of preparing for "a strong recovery".

Read more
28 Apr 2021 11:04

SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: Stagecoach founders sell down stake

SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: Stagecoach founders sell down stake

Read more
28 Apr 2021 09:43

BROKER RATINGS: Peel Hunt boosts Playtech to Buy from Reduce

BROKER RATINGS: Peel Hunt boosts Playtech to Buy from Reduce

Read more
23 Apr 2021 12:26

UPDATE 4-FirstGroup's $4.6 bln N.American sale boosts shares

* To sell FirstStudent, FirstTransit to Sweden's EQT Infrastructure* Proposes 30p per share return to shareholders in 2021* Greyhound not part of sale* Shares rise as much as 19%, highest in 13 months (Adds EQT statement, debt, peer performance)By ...

Read more
14 Apr 2021 09:38

BROKER RATINGS: UBS says buy FirstGroup, National Express, Stagecoach

BROKER RATINGS: UBS says buy FirstGroup, National Express, Stagecoach

Read more
26 Mar 2021 11:08

SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: TT Electronics rises on test approval hope

SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: TT Electronics rises on test approval hope

Read more
15 Mar 2021 07:49

UK PM pledges 3 bln stg for England's bus network

LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will invest 3 billion pounds ($4.17 billion) in England's bus network, aiming to provide more frequent, cheaper services to encourage people to catch the bus instead of using the c...

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.