Broker tips: Miners, Outsourcers, M&S, Cineworld

2014 could initially be 'another difficult period' for the UK mining sector, according to analysts at Barclays, who maintained their 'negative' view on the industry on Friday.In a research note to clients, the bank said that "key issues" of 2013 - negative earnings growth, minimal free cash-flow (FCF) generation, slowing demand in China and surging supply - will likely remain in place this year.Outsourcing group Capita was performing well on Friday morning after UBS raised its recommendation for the stock, while sector peer Serco was hit by a ratings downgrade by the same Swiss bank.UBS said that Capita has good earnings prospects with strong results in 2013 underpinning estimates this year, as it lifted its stance from 'neutral' to 'buy'. "Our upgrade is partly a switch from 'value' to 'quality' in the outsourcing sector as we simultaneously downgrade Serco to 'neutral' [from 'buy'] following its share-price recovery," the bank said.Marks & Spencer's share price was extending gains on Friday morning after Citigroup maintained its 'buy' rating for the stock on the back of a confident outlook.Despite the retailer missing forecasts in the third quarter, the bank remains bullish: "The combination of our stronger 2014 and 2015 UK economic growth forecasts, and M&S management initiatives (especially on GM availability) has markedly improved the credibility of double-digit FY15 and FY16 M&S earnings per share growth forecasts. We argue that this should underpin the group's current undemanding valuation metrics."Panmure Gordon has maintained it 'sell' rating for cinema operator Cineworld after the company's proposed offer for Poland-listed, Dutch-headquartered Cinema City International (CCI)."At first glance we struggle to see the logic for the acquisition given management's insistence on the substantial growth opportunities available in the UK and the group's failure to complete its proposed acquisition in Spain," Panmure said.BC