Research & Tips

Share research from Hargreaves Lansdown

• BT profits advance on increased broadband subscriptions and cost cuts
  03 Feb, 2012 10:00
  BT delivered a solid set of third quarter results earlier today, due to a combination of factors that included cost cutting initiatives, lower regulatory charges, and a strong demand for a wide range of its services. Headline figures saw pre-tax profits for the three months to the end of December rise 48% to £652 million, while revenue fell 5% to £4.77 billion. The group, which has offset falling revenues in recent years by deep cost cuts and an improving operational

• Xstrata confirms talks with Glencore
  02 Feb, 2012 15:15
  Xstrata recently announced that it had received an approach from and is in discussions with Glencore regarding an all share merger of equals which may or may not lead to an offer being made by Glencore for Xstrata. There can be no certainty that any offer will be made. Glencore already holds a share stake in Xstrata of over 30%. The group's late January 12 month production report until the 31st December 2011 saw management highlighting record annual production from

• AstraZeneca warns of growing pressure on profits as workforce is drastically cut
  02 Feb, 2012 15:00
  Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca warned of growing pressure on its revenues and unveiled plans to cut 7,300 jobs alongside full year results published earlier today. The drug maker posted full-year revenues down 2% to $33.3 billion with nearly $2 billion in sales lost to generic competition and $1 billion because of government price intervention. Pre-tax profits for the full year rose 12.7% to $12.8 billion. In announcing a new set of restructuring initiatives, the group said the total number of

Press tips from Share Cast

• Sunday share tips: Compass, ZincOx, Johnson Matthey
  05 Feb, 2012 16:01
  For the Questor team at the Sunday Telegraph food-service group Compass has proved that it can weather turbulent times - and still looks good value at current levels. This may be due to the fact that the current crisis plays to the company's strengths, as

• Friday tips round-up: Imperial Tobacco, Unilever
  03 Feb, 2012 07:18
  Obviously, investing in tobacco shares is not to everyone's taste - but through good times and bad they continue to make money for shareholders, Questor in the Telegraph notes.

• Thursday tips round-up: United Utilities, Petra Diamonds
  02 Feb, 2012 06:54
  The Tempus column in the Times has its mind on United Utilities, the north England-focused water company. This is a highly regulated stock which is all about yield. The current promise is for yield to grow each year at inflation plus 2%. In 2012 the full

Broker tips from Share Cast

• Broker tips: BT, Misys, GAME
  03 Feb, 2012 11:27
  Nomura has maintained its buy rating on BT, saying that the telecom titan's trading momentum is building nicely for 2012.

• Broker snap: Sell Misys, says Merchant Securities
  03 Feb, 2012 11:23
  Merchant Securities has given financial software provider Misys a sell rating following the news that the firm is in talks with a suitor.

• Broker snap: Peel Hunt keeps hold of GAME
  03 Feb, 2012 11:15
  Shares in struggling computer gaming retailer GAME Group surged on Friday morning after it confirmed revised terms have been agreed with its lenders, but Peel Hunt has maintained its cautious stance on the stock.

Directors dealings from Share Cast

• Double dealing for Gulfsands
  03 Feb, 2012 14:36
  A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.

• WH Smith Chief sells 40% of her shares in the firm
  02 Feb, 2012 15:31
  A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.

• Hydrodec CEO marks arrival, GSK associate stocks up
  01 Feb, 2012 14:27
  A round-up of the biggest director deals today so far.