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Big News
Will Purplebrick’s purple patch continue in the US?
Thursday 04 May 2017Challenger estate agent Purplebricks ( PURP:AIM ) is targeting an imminent roll-out of its hybrid model in the US after successfully establishing itself in the UK and launching in Australia in August 2016. Peel Hunt analyst Gavin Jago says this opportunity is not yet priced into Purplebrick’s...
Lloyds leads the way on banking recovery
Thursday 04 May 2017The days of banks having tarnished reputations is far from over but there are encouraging signs that some of the old retail investor favourites are getting back on form. Lloyds Banking ( LLOY ) leads the pack as its first quarter earnings beat market expectations. Analysts suggested they might...
Energy in a spin over plans for power price cap
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Energy supply companies have again been thrust into the spotlight with confirmation that the Conservative Party election manifesto will feature a commitment to cap certain power tariffs. Press speculation earlier this week claims that the current Government would propose plans that cut gas and...
Virgin Money shrugs off unsecured debt concerns
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Despite growing concerns over levels of unsecured debt in the UK, Virgin Money ( VM. ) has confounded the doubters by producing a strong set of lending results. The company now has credit card balances of £2.7bn with what it describes as ‘stable customer behaviour and arrear levels’. Credit cards...
Sportech easier to swallow after pools sale
Thursday 27 Apr 2017A streamlined Sportech ( SPO:AIM ) could be a takeover candidate according to Investec analyst Alistair Ross. Shareholders in the betting services provider approved the £83m sale of its Football Pools operation to private equity firm OPCapita on 19 April and the deal is expected to complete in May...
Tritax investors offered cheap shares
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Investors in Tritax Big Box REIT ( BBOX ) have the chance to buy slightly discounted shares as the warehouse specialist tries to raise £200m. An open offer will run until 10 May enabling existing investors to buy one new share at 136p for every 11 shares they already own. That compares with a 140...
Spanking for Sports Direct
Thursday 27 Apr 2017In an excoriating research note (21 Apr) entitled ‘From Damascus to Delaware’, stockbroker Peel Hunt has put the boot into Sports Direct International’s ( SPD ) $101m acquisition of 50 loss-making stores from a distressed US business. The company’s focus should be on turning round Sports Direct’s...
Robotics stocks could get boost from Trump policies
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Tech stocks fell when Donald Trump was elected president last November as investors rotated into banking stocks in the hope of friendly policies towards the sector from the new administration. This trend is reversing according to Walter Price, senior portfolio manager of Allianz Technology Trust (...
Whitbread burnt by Costa sales decline
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Shares in Whitbread ( WTB ) took a knock on 25 April amid poor results from its Costa Coffee brand. Like-for-like sales fell by 0.8% between 1 December 2016 and 2 March 2017 versus 3% growth in the previous nine months. The company has a cautious outlook for the leisure brand, anticipating a...
Wincanton joins list of potential takeover targets
Thursday 27 Apr 2017Logistics firm Wincanton ( WIN ) could be the next British company to be taken over by a foreign business, according to analysts. ‘We would argue that Wincanton is a potential takeover candidate given its market position, customer relationships, contract portfolio and attractive valuation. The...