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.
