Naz News, Gappers and FLE's

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LULU +8% USO -$0.14

9:45am ET Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index 41.3

12/11/2014 08:09 Majority of Americans Not Planning to Hike Holiday Budgets

Russia on lows.
Russian Central Bank Raises Rates to Address Sliding Ruble -- Update

Market News : 9:43am

FTSE 100 6452.20 -47.84 -0.74%
FTSE 250 15649.09 -88.43 -0.56%
FTSE AIM All-Share 696.60 -6.76 -0.96%

Top News :
G-20 Economic Growth Picked Up in Third Quarter
The global economy grew at a slight faster pace in the third quarter, aided by a modest pickup in the eurozone and a less deep contraction in Japan .
Bank of England Unveils Transparency Push
The Bank of England on Thursday proposed sweeping changes to how it explains its policy decisions, reflecting the increased scrutiny central banks face in the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Some Tesco Investors File Lawsuit After Accounting Errors
A group of Tesco PLC (TSCO.LN) investors has filed a lawsuit against the company over the accounting practices that led to an overstatement of 263 million pounds ( $414 million ) of the beleaguered grocer's earnings.
Shell Looks to Sell Stake in China Lubricant
Royal Dutch Shell PLC is , as the Anglo-Dutch oil giant sheds assets across the globe amid falling oil prices.
Companies News :
Sports Direct's Pretax Profit Rises 5% in First Half
Sports Direct International PLC (SPD.LN) Thursday posted a 5% rise in pretax profit for the first half of its financial year, and said it remains confident in achieving its full-year internal earnings target.
Whitbread 13 Week Comparable Sales +6%; Sees FY15 in Line With Expectations
Whitbread PLC (WTB.LN) said Thursday group comparable sales for the 13 weeks ended Nov. 27 rose 6% and that it remains confident it will deliver full-year results in line with expectations.
Ocado Sees Sales Growth Slightly Ahead of Online Grocery Market
Online food retailer Ocado Group PLC (OCDO.LN) expects to continue to grow sales slightly ahead of the online grocery market despite competition intensifying due to widespread price cutting in the supermarket sector.
Wood Group Eyes Earnings Growth Despite Oil Price Slump
John Wood Group PLC (WG.LN) said Thursday it is on track to deliver higher earnings this year due to a strong performance from its Wood Group PSN production services division, which will offset lower earnings from its engineering and turbine activities units, and despite a slump in oil prices.
Songbird Estates Appoints New Qatar Representative to Board
Songbird Estates PLC (SBD.LN), the majority owner of London's Canary Wharf finance district, has appointed a new representative of Qatar's sovereign-wealth fund, former Lazard banker Ken Costa , to its board.
GlaxoSmithKline Seeks Variation on Authorization for Ambrisentan
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.LN) said Thursday that it has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency to widen the uses for which its pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment Ambrisentan can be marketed.
Go-Ahead Reiterates FY Expectations
U.K. public transport operator Go-Ahead Group PLC (GOG.LN) Thursday retained its full-year expectations and said that overall year-to-date trading has been robust, with a strong performance in bus and rail operations.
SuperGroup 1H Profit Drops, Margins to Take Hit
Clothing brand SuperGroup PLC (SGP.LN) on Thursday reported a lower profit in what it called a disappointing first half and said its gross margin will be hit by clearance activity in the second half.
Bunzl Sees FY Trading in Line With Expectations
Distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl PLC (BNZL.LN) Thursday reported that trading since October has continued in line with expectations, saying it will post revenue growth of 6% for 2014.
Moss Bros Encouraged By Current Trading Momentum; FY on Track
Formal menswear retailer Moss Bros Group PLC (MOSB.LN) on Thursday said it is encouraged by the trading momentum throughout the business as it enters the important Christmas trading period and remains confident in the outlook for the full year.
Polar Capital Holdings First Half Hit By Japan Outflows
Polar Capital Holdings PLC (PCFT.LN) Thursday said assets under management rose 1% in the six months to Sept. 30 to $ 13.4 billion , with outflows in Japan offsetting progress elsewhere.
Other News:
U.K.'s FCA Says Annuities Sales Competition Not Working for Consumers
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority said Thursday its review into the annuities sales market finds competition isn't working for consumers, with many continuing to miss out on higher income by not shopping around.
Analysis:
BHP Turns to Fertilizers in Search for Growth
Global mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. is likely to raise the profile of fertilizers among its suite of products as it hunts for resources to tap longer-term growth in China .
Market Talk:
UBS Raise Laird, Spirent To Buy From Neutral
1217 GMT UBS takes a look at the U.K. technology sector and subsequently raises Laird and Spirent Communications to buy from hold. In general sees another robust year for semis capital expenditure, softer telecom capex (but stable vendor revenue), ongoing strong growth in low-end smartphones, a medium-term inventory correction in analog semis and the continuing emergence of mobile payments. UBS raises Laird target price to 350p from 315p. Shares are up 1.2% at 307p. Spirent target price is raised to 79p from 75p and shares are currently up 2.1% at 68p.
UBS Raises Imagination Technologies Target
1201 GMT [Dow Jones]--Smartphone chip designer Imagination Technologies Group PLC (IMG.LN) has lost market share in its specialist area graphics but has opportunities in other areas, UBS analysts note as they lift their target to 310p from 300p. These include the Internet of Things, a term used to describe everyday objects being wirelessly connected, and Imagination's technology being used in devices' central processing units, not just graphics processing units. UBS also expects Imagination to win back some market share in graphics technology at the low end of the device market. Keeps its buy rating on the stock. Shares unchanged at 202p.
UBS Predicts Strong 2015 for ARM; Lifts Price Target
1128 GMT Semiconductor group ARM Holdings should next year benefit from more powerful processors being used in smartphones and other devices, say UBS analysts as they lift their target to 1070p from 980p. "We believe 2015 will mark the start of 64-bit [processors] being more meaningful financially for ARM," the analysts say. They also predict that ARM will benefit from more penetration into the computer server market and that its new CFO (still to be hired) will return more cash to shareholders. "We believe ARM could be significantly more generous," says UBS, which has a buy rating on the stock. Shares down 1.7% at 944p.
BP Upstream Reassures but Market Needs More Says JPM
1119 GMT Oil giant BP's upstream presentation Wednesday reassured but investors want more cash saving targets to ease the strain on the balance sheet and protect the dividend, say analysts at JPMorgan Cazenove. On a more macro view, says Big Oil is ill-prepared for this oil price rout and it will be the first quarter of 2015 before companies respond with more definitive near-term survival plans. "In the meantime and whilst OPEC remains a bystander, this sector and all its contents are best avoided" JPM rates BP neutral with a 400p target price. Shares are down 0.1% at 399p.
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12-11-14 0943ET
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