Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS), Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS), Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI), United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU), Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF), BT Group plc (LON:BT.A)
RBS and Natwest To Inject £150m Into Leisure Market (IBTimes)
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS) and its retail arm Natwest launched a £150m to support the growth of the leisure industry, in a move seen to shirk off mounting complaints and scandals in the retail industry. Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS) and Natwest revealed in a joint statement that the fund includes fee-free loans to support investment for the leisure industry, as one in four UK leisure businesses feel they are losing out to competitors due to lack of investment. “Competition in this sector is fierce, so those putting off short term investment can quickly find they need to make larger investments, or face being left behind,” said Andrew Taylor, Head of Leisure for Commercial Banking at NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS).
Scottish bank customers warned over deposit protection scheme (Guardian)
Bank customers and pensioners in Scotland would be less well protected if the country voted to leave the UK, a report warned on Monday. An independent Scottish retail banking sector would be dominated by two large banks – Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS). If one of these were to fail, the report suggests, almost all of the costs for compensating depositors would fall on the remaining firm, and that could lead to more concern among deposit-holders.
Banks: emerging from the bottom drawer (Scotsman)
It’s bottom-drawer rummage time again. Remember those bank shares that made you wince every time you checked them? The ones with 90 per cent falls that dragged down your investment performance, that paid no dividends and were useful only to mitigate capital gains tax liability? In the deep purgatory of this bottom drawer, stirrings are afoot. Last Friday, shares in Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS) were top of the leader board with a 5.7 per cent climb to 336.8p. That’s 71 per cent up on the low of 196.6p last summer if still short of the 367.8p peak reached earlier this year.
Enterprise Inns Given “Overweight” Rating at Morgan Stanley (ETI) (DailyPolitical)
Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI)‘s stock had its “overweight” rating reaffirmed by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) in a research note issued on Friday, Stock Ratings Network.com reports. They currently have a GBX 140 ($2.15) price target on the stock. Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI) has been the subject of a number of other recent research reports. Analysts at Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI) in a research note to investors on Tuesday.
Villagers rallying behind bid to buy their local pub (TewkesburyAdmag)
MORE than 150 residents packed into Bishampton Village Hall on Monday to support a bid to buy their local pub. Ever since Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI) put the Dolphin up for sale several weeks ago, parish councillors have been inundated with requests by residents to take it on and get the pumps flowing again as soon as possible. As a result, the parish council placed a bid which has now been accepted by Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI), subject to contract. …He said: “We have done our sums and liaised with other parish council pub purchasers and came to the conclusion that the plan was worthwhile putting to our own residents. We feel we have a very good deal from Enterprise Inns plc (LON:ETI), which we are grateful for.
United Utilities Group Stock Rating Reaffirmed by Deutsche Bank (UU) (MideastTime)
United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by investment analysts at Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) in a note issued to investors on Friday, Stock Ratings Network reports. They currently have a GBX 770 ($11.81) target price on the stock. United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) traded up 0.46% on Friday, hitting GBX 765.00. United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) has a 52-week low of GBX 617.00 and a 52-week high of GBX 816.00. The stock’s 50-day moving average is currently GBX 711.9. The company’s market cap is £5.216 billion. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU). Analysts at Credit Suisse reiterated an “underperform” rating on shares of United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) in a research note to investors on Thursday.
U.K. Stocks Climb to 2007 High as Lloyds, Anglo American Advance (BusinessWeek)
U.K. stocks climbed to a five-year high, extending the benchmark FTSE 100 (UKX) Index’s fourth straight weekly advance, as banks and mining companies rallied and U.S. consumer confidence topped forecasts. …Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF), the owner of Twinings tea and Ovaltine malt drink, slid 2 percent to 1,886 pence as strategists at Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS) and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) downgraded food companies to underweight, the equivalent of a sell recommendation. Tate & Lyle Group Plc, the maker of low-calorie sweetener Splenda, slid 1.3 percent to 850 pence.
Associated British Foods plc’s “Hold” Rating Reaffirmed at Investec (ASBFY) (MideastTime)
Investec reissued their hold rating on shares of Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) in a research report released on Tuesday morning, Stock Ratings Network reports. ASBFY has been the subject of a number of other recent research reports. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity reiterated a sell rating on shares of Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) in a research note to investors on Thursday, May 2nd. Separately, analysts at Galvan Research reiterated a buy rating on shares of Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) in a research note to investors on Monday, April 29th. Finally, analysts at Nomura reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF) in a research note to investors on Wednesday, April 24th.
A Closer Look at BT Group’s Dividend Potential (Fool)
Dividend income accounts for around two-thirds of total returns, the actual rate of return taking into account both capital and income appreciation. Given that share prices are often volatile and unpredictable, the potential for plump dividends can give shareholders much-needed peace of mind for decent returns. I am currently looking at the dividend prospects of BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) and assessing whether the company is an appetizing pick for income investors. …BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) has steadily ramped up dividend payments over the past four years, moving in line with robust earnings growth, with the annual shareholder payout accelerating over the period and breaching double-digits over the past 24 months.
BT may use FibreCo network in South Africa by September (TelecomPaper)
BT Group plc (LON:BT.A) says parts of the South African open access underground fibre network being built by local firm FibreCo may be go live by September 2013, ITWeb reported. FibreCo CEO Arif Hussain has said his company has three key anchor tenants: UK-based telecoms firm BT Group plc (LON:BT.A), South African mobile operator Cell C and Internet Solutions (IS). Anchor tenancy is sold on the basis of a 20-year indefeasible right of use (IRU) for ownership of a number of fibre pairs.
