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London midday: Profit-takers weaken ARM
Wed, 08 Feb, 2012
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London midday: Profit-takers weaken ARM
Thu, 2 Sep 2010, 11:40:00
London completed an indecisive morning with the blue-chip index marginally in the red. Investors have shown little inclination to chase prices higher after yesterday's strong advance and economic data has not been helpful to sentiment. UK construction sector growth slowed for the third month in a row in August, to its lowest in half a year, doing little to calm fears of a "double-dip" recession, while house prices fell for the second month in a row in August, suggesting that recent declines in the market may amount to more than a seasonal dip. High-flying computer chip designer <b>ARM Holdings </b>is flying a little lower today after Panmure Gordon reiterated its "sell" recommendation and cut its price target for the stock to 265p from 275p. "Our recent conversations with semiconductor industry participants suggest that a weakening macro economy and increased nervousness has caused softness in demand for chips for consumer electronics in recent weeks," the broker said, adding that consensus estimates look "aggressive" and therefore the stock "looks vulnerable to downgrades to consensus". <b>Tullow Oil</b> is another high profile faller. The company is to buy half-shares in five licences in the East African rift basins of Kenya and Ethiopia. Africa Oil Corp has sold Tullow 50% stakes in blocks 10BB, 10A, 12A and 13T in Kenya and the South Omo block in Ethiopia, an area covering 97,000 square kilometres. <b>Scottish and Southern Electric</b> is lower after being named in a mis-selling probe by regulator Ofgem. Three other big electricity suppliers are also under investigation - EDF, Scottish Power and nPower. The two other major suppliers British Gas, owned by <b>Centrica</b>, and E.ON are not involved. In company news,<b> AstraZeneca</b> has received approval from the European Commission (EC) for its schizophrenia and bipolar drug Seroquel XR as an add-on treatment for major depressive episodes where antidepressants haven't worked. <b>Xstrata</b> Zinc's proposed acquisition of Toronto-listed Noranda Income Fund has fallen through after the pair were unable to agree a price. Madrid-based Xstrata Zinc had increased its offer for the fund to C$3.90 for every priority unit, worth $146.3m (£90.2m), up from an initial offer of $3.40, or $127.5m. In the FTSE 250, <b>McBride</b>, which supplies household products for supermarkets to sell under their own names, is going well after it shrugged off the challenge from promotions of branded products to post a sharp rise in profits in the year to June 30 as shoppers continued seeking the cheapest items. The maker of washing-up liquid, shaving foam and many other products saw pre-tax profits before exceptional items rise to £42.4m from £29.6m on revenues that rose to £812.2m from £792.4m. Investors also have an appetite for <b>Restaurant Group</b>. The company, which operates the Chiquito and Frankie and Benny's chains mostly seen in out of town shopping centres and cinemas, posted a rise in profits and revenues in the 27 weeks to 4 July despite tough economic conditions. It saw adjusted pre-tax profits rise to £24.6m from £21.7m over a comparable period the previous year as revenues rose to £229m from £210m. Global recruitment firm <b>Hays</b> is another strong performer. It saw a return to growth in the second half of its financial year, which softened the blow of a 53% slide in pre-tax profits. Profit before tax and exceptional items in the year to 30 June tumbled to £71.1m from £151m the year before, beating market expectations. Broker Charles Stanley's above consensus forecast had been for a figure of £70m. Rail and bus company <b>Go-Ahead</b> is cautious on the economic outlook and the prospect of government spending cuts after reporting a fall in profits in the year to July 3 amid tough conditions. The operator of the Southern, Southeastern and Gatwick Express rail franchises and bus operations in cities such as Plymouth and Oxford, saw revenues edge up to £2.20bn from £2.19bn the previous year, but pre-tax profits, though down to £88.7m from £117.3m last year, were ahead of expectations. <b>DSG International</b>, soon to become Dixons Retail, bumped up both total group revenue and like for like sales by 3% in the first quarter as shoppers responded well to Apple's iPad and the electrical retailer's World Cup promotion. The Currys and PC World owner grew like for like sales by 6% in the UK & Ireland during the 12 weeks ended 24 July. Televisions were in demand in the run up to July's premier football tournament. Things continued to heat up at energy efficiency firm <b>Eaga</b> last year but the company conceded its faces some near term competitive challenges. Revenues in the year to 31 May grew by 3.1% to £762.2m from £738.9m the year before, and earnings before interest , tax and amortisation (EBITA) increased by 10.1% to £52.0m from (2009's £47.2m). <b>FTSE 100 - Risers</b> Autonomy Corporation (AU.) 1,697.00p +4.05% BAE Systems (BA.) 311.60p +3.18% Man Group (EMG) 221.90p +2.49% Aviva (AV.) 394.80p +1.67% RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 126.30p +1.61% Old Mutual (OML) 133.80p +1.59% BG Group (BG.) 1,092.50p +1.35% Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,673.00p +1.21% Legal & General Group (LGEN) 95.40p +1.11% Kazakhmys (KAZ) 1,249.00p +1.05% <b>FTSE 100 - Fallers</b> ARM Holdings (ARM) 358.40p -4.20% African Barrick Gold (ABG) 600.50p -2.75% Cairn Energy (CNE) 459.50p -2.71% Cable & Wireless Worldwide (CW.) 70.00p -2.71% 3i Group (III) 263.90p -2.26% Tullow Oil (TLW) 1,208.00p -2.11% Centrica (CNA) 325.70p -1.72% InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 1,028.00p -1.44% Lonmin (LMI) 1,584.00p -1.43% Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,393.00p -1.42%
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