Market Pulse
Premier Oil hit by Jefferies downgrade
Premier Oil’s shares tumbled on Tuesday after Jefferies cut its rating on the stock to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ and slashed the target price to 33p from 120p.
Exane upgrades Centrica; says negatives now priced in
Exane BNP Paribas upgraded Centrica to ‘outperform’ from ‘neutral’, maintaining a 250p price target, saying the stock has had a tough couple of years but this is now all in the price.
HSBC downgrades BHP Billiton to 'reduce'
HSBC downgraded BHP Billiton to ‘reduce’ from ‘hold’ and cut the price target to 590p from 1,100p saying the company faces further headwinds from oil and iron ore.
Saga delivers on 2015 key objectives
Saga said on Tuesday it has delivered on its strategic objectives for the year.
Asia: Stocks mixed as China fixes yuan firmer
Asian stocks were mixed on Tuesday as China’s central bank fixed the yuan firmer again but concerns about the nation’s flagging economy remained.
UK retail sales fall flat as non-food wanes, BRC-KPMG finds
UK retail sales were disappointingly flat in December, with a 0. 1% like-for-like increase and total sales up 1. 0%.
UK industrial and manufacturing production drop in November
UK manufacturing and industrial production fell in November, missing economists’ expectations.
Asian buyers to sup from Anheuser-SAB merger
Japanese brewer Asahi Group is mulling a swoop for beer brands Peroni and Grolsch that may have to be sold as part of the takeover of SABMiller by Anheuser-Busch InBev, according to reports.
Rentokil announces five acquisitions
Business services group Rentokil Initial announced five acquisitions in the fourth quarter of 2015 and first week of 2016 in its growth and emerging quadrants.
London open: Stocks gain as supermarkets rally, yuan strengthens
London stocks started on the front foot on Tuesday, driven by retailers after better-than-expected trading updates from Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Debenhams.
IP Group expects 2015 to be most successful year
IP Group said on Tuesday it expects 2015 to be its “most successful year” when it comes to financial performance.
Europe open: Stocks edge higher as retailers shine
European stocks rose in early trade, taking their cue from a late recovery on Wall Street, as retailers put in a strong performance.
Supermarket sales slip over Christmas, Kantar finds
UK supermarket industry sales over the festive period fell by 0. 2% on last year, though Sainsbury's continued to grab market share along with the ever-rising discounters.
Grafton Group 2015 revenue up 6.3%
Builders merchant and DIY company Grafton Group reported a 6. 3% rise in revenue in 2015, as it reiterated its full year operating profit guidance.
Debenhams surges as Christmas sales beat expectations
Shares in Debenhams surged on Tuesday after the retailer reported solid Christmas trading, beating analysts’ expectations.
Wm Morrison delivers Christmas sales surprise with LFL rise
Morrison's delivered an unexpectedly solid Christmas trading update in a welcome turnaround under new chief executive David Potts.
Trans-Pacific Partnership to be signed in February
The Trans-Pacific Partnership will be signed by all 12 countries at a ceremony in Auckland, New Zealand next month, Newstalk ZB reported on Tuesday.
Just Eat delivers tasty order growth
Growth in the number of online takeaway order grew strongly for Just Eat in the full year, rising to 57% from 52% in the first half of the year and 52% in the full year before.
AO World posts rise in third quarter sales
Online white goods retailer AO World posted a rise in third quarter revenue and said its group performance remains in line with expectations.
Star Wars and Hunger Games boost Cineworld's 2015 revenues
Cineworld Group said it anticipates the group’s profit or 2015 to be in line with expectations after posting double digit revenue growth for the year.