Monday tips round-up: Royal Dutch Shell, BP, GSK and Anglo American

There is an inevitable dividend question hanging over the two big oil companies, the Times’ Tempus column said.

Royal Dutch Shell and BP, both reporting this week, offer among the best yields in the market, in excess of 6%.

If the payments are maintained, they remain attractive investments and Tempus expects them to be.

However, the Times warned of a “degree of mayhem” further down the food chain as smaller explorers align payments to falling oil revenues.

The Financial Times’ Lex column said while approval of malarial vaccine Mosquirix was a morale boost for GlaxoSmithKline shareholders, they will have to wait longer for dividends to improve.

GSK has underperformed the sector for several years, and last year was hit by a bribery scandal in China, issued a profit warning and suspended share buybacks.

Lex said the main problem was the company’s pharma section where it faced falling sales for its asthma drug Advair in particular.

GSK could buy more products, but valuations were unpredictable and GSK needed more evidence its pipeline of drugs was worth waiting for.

Ango American needs to build up some financial flexibility, Lex said, as strong balance sheets benefit most when cycles turn.

The mining firm posted a $3bn half-year loss due to grim commodity prices and capital expenditure commitments.

Lex said the company has to cut costs, boost productivity, sell assets, and wish for price recovery.

However capital expenditure cuts can only go so far, the Financial Times warned, as the company must keep existing assets ticking over.