Thursday 9 August 2012
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I don't want yes-men around me. I want everyone to tell the truth, even if it costs them their jobs
- Samuel Goldwyn
THIS MORNING IN LONDON
FTSE 100
5,843.84
-2.08 -0.04%
FTSE 250
11,426.66
-9.78 -0.09%
FTSE 350
3,098.92
-1.30 -0.04%
FTSE All Share
3,030.33
-1.08 -0.04%
AIM 100
3,103.10
3.69 0.12%
AIM All Share
684.54
1.42 0.21%
12:06 pm
Gains erased as ECB cuts GDP forecasts
- ECB cuts growth expectations
- Cooling Chinese inflation boosts stimulus hopes
- Footsie pulls back from four-month high
After a tentative start on Thursday, London's FTSE 100 swung into the red by lunchtime on concerns over European growth; however losses for the blue-chip index were only modest as it stayed within a narrow range of just 19 points in morning trade.
The European Central Bank's (ECB's) monthly report dampened sentiment today after it downgraded its growth prospects for the Eurozone economy. The ECB now expects the region to contract by 0.3% this year, slightly worse than the 0.2% fall originally estimated, while 2013 growth will be 0.6%, under the previous forecast of 1%.
"The overall increase in uncertainty was accompanied by a sharp deterioration in markets' assessments of firms' credit risk, as measured, for instance, by expected default frequencies," the ECB said.
Yesterday, the Bank of England also reduced its forecasts for gross domestic product in the UK and now expects the economy to not grow this year.
Meanwhile, DBRS has decided to cut Spain's rating two notches to 'A (low)' and downgraded Italy by one notch to 'A', although it kept its negative outlook on both countries. The Canadian credit ratings agency is one of the four used by the ECB to determine the charges when accepting sovereign debt as collateral.
In other news, Chinese consumer price inflation slowed to 1.8% in July from a 2.2% increase in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing. While this was broadly in line with expectations, analysts are saying this morning that this has left the door open to more monetary easing in the world's second-largest economy.
FTSE 100: StanChart, Randgold lead the risers; AMEC drops
Under-fire bank Standard Chartered was a high riser as it continues to rebound from its 16% drop on Tuesday on the back of alleged dealings with the Iranian government.
Gold miner Randgold Resources jumped after seeing profits surge in the first half of 2012 on the back of a record performance from its flagship Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali. Mining peers Glencore, Antofagasta and Xstrata were also higher on hopes that additional stimulus in China will boost the demand for commodities.
Heading the other way was engineering and consultancy group AMEC despite saying it is on track for double-digit underlying revenue growth this year as sales jumped by over a third in the first half. The firm did not that its EBITDA margin slipped in the first half, and while it is expected to improve in the second half, it will be lower than the previous year.
Struggling insurance giant Aviva edged lower after reporting a 10% fall in half-year operating profits as foreign exchange fluctuations and restructuring costs hit the bottom line.
FTSE 250: Ocado drops after downgrade
Shares in online grocery group Ocado took a hit this morning after UBS downgraded the stock from 'neutral' to 'sell', saying that consensus estimates are too bullish for next year and there is evidence of demand growth slowing.
Heavy rain has hit Bumi's output this year, causing shares to slip this morning. Nevertheless, an improved performance in the second quarter should continue into the second half (weather permitting), ensuring most of the miner's production shortfall is made good.
Residential property owner and manager Grainger gained after saying it has put in a strong operational performance in the third quarter but did caution the fragility of the economic backdrop.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,365.00p +3.76%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,335.00p +2.34%
ITV (ITV) 82.60p +1.66%
Glencore International (GLEN) 342.10p +1.24%
Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 2,519.00p +1.04%
Aggreko (AGK) 2,249.00p +1.03%
Xstrata (XTA) 921.40p +0.98%
Resolution Ltd. (RSL) 215.30p +0.94%
British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSY) 749.50p +0.87%
Unilever (ULVR) 2,295.00p +0.75%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Amec (AMEC) 1,080.00p -6.82%
Evraz (EVR) 271.80p -2.93%
BT Group (BT.A) 216.10p -2.53%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 224.70p -1.83%
Capita (CPI) 726.50p -1.69%
Pearson (PSON) 1,228.00p -1.60%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 885.50p -1.45%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,063.00p -1.12%
Aviva (AV.) 314.70p -1.10%
SABMiller (SAB) 2,802.50p -1.06%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Grainger (GRI) 96.55p +3.82%
Imagination Technologies Group (IMG) 546.00p +3.51%
Chemring Group (CHG) 308.00p +2.39%
Perform Group (PER) 375.50p +2.12%
Morgan Crucible Co (MGCR) 269.00p +2.05%
Home Retail Group (HOME) 82.75p +1.91%
Savills (SVS) 384.00p +1.86%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 94.85p +1.77%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 443.40p +1.72%
Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 292.70p +1.46%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Ocado Group (OCDO) 71.95p -5.33%
Bumi (BUMI) 354.90p -4.08%
Computacenter (CCC) 364.00p -3.45%
Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) 31.52p -3.25%
Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 106.50p -3.18%
Heritage Oil (HOIL) 172.30p -2.66%
Cobham (COB) 220.00p -2.53%
Premier Oil (PMO) 389.30p -2.43%
Kenmare Resources (KMR) 38.55p -2.43%
Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI) (GEMD) 187.90p -2.39%
WHAT THE BROKERS SAY
FREE SHARE TIP OF THE DAY
A report by Growth Equities & Company Research
- Mishorim Development Group Ltd (Mishorim) is a real estate development group that owns or has a significant interest in a diverse range of properties in Canada, Israel and the USA.
- The group had a Net Asset Value (NAV) of NIS 433 million at 31st March 2012, to which the shares currently trade at a 54.9% discount.
- We believe there is scope for a further potential increase in Mishorim's NAV, based on the performance of underlying economies and property markets.
- Development projects are either planned or underway at a number of properties, which, once completed, could enhance the Mishorim portfolio by increasing revenues and/or asset value.
- We initiate coverage with a stance of buy at NIS 8.180, with a NIS 10.503 target price..
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THE LATEST ON THE CRAZY BOARD
The top 5 hot company threads on the Bulletin Board:
Mariana Resources -
Standard Chartered
Zoltav Resources
Fiberweb
Running trading thread
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BOOK OF THE WEEK
By Richard Rumelt
A book review by Aaron Padgham of t1ps.com
Richard Rumelt's book, Good Strategy, Bad Strategy explains the very definition of a strategy - a coherent response to one's obstacles in order to progress, and whether you're a high-flying CEO, head of a charity or the coach of a local sports team, you will know, or are soon to learn that the creation and implementation of a focused 'good' strategy is a key requirement to success.
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