FTSE Falters As EX Divi’s Weigh
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In early trading on Thursday, Britain's primary stock indexes showed a mixed performance as some positive earnings reports were counteracted by losses in stocks of companies trading ex-dividend. The FTSE 100, which is heavily influenced by exporters, remained under pressure shedding 0.75% on the session.
On the fundamental front The housing market in Britain showed improvement in February, however, property surveyors expressed concerns about the potential impact of uncertainty surrounding the Bank of England's interest rate decisions on demand. This information comes from a closely monitored industry survey.
Shares of Anglo American fell by 2.7% on the stock market. Similarly, the shares of NatWest Group dropped by 4.6% as both firms vied for the bottom spot on the blue chip index. The reason for this drop in share prices is that they were traded without entitlement for dividends. This means that investors who bought or sold these shares during this period did not have the right to receive the next dividend payment from the company. This can sometimes lead to a decrease in demand for the shares, causing their prices to fall. It's important for investors to be aware of such developments as they can have an impact on the overall performance of their investment portfolio.
On the positive side of the ledger INforma sits at the top of the table, this comes in the midst of UBS raising its price target on Informa Plc (INF:LN) (OTC: IFJPY) shares to GBP 9.47 from GBP 9.33, maintaining a Buy rating. The firm sees Informa as a top pick for the year, citing four key areas where the company could outperform expectations and increase its valuation. UBS believes Informa could exceed its revenue growth target of over 5% post-2024, due to untapped pricing potential in its events sector. They also predict that higher growth rates could improve operating leverage and increase margins, despite Informa's guidance suggesting steady margins around 30%. UBS also highlights the valuation of TechTarget (NASDAQ: TTGT), which they have set at $45 per share, significantly higher than its current share price of $32. This could represent an additional 40p per share for Informa investors in an optimistic scenario.
FTSE Bias: Bullish Above Bearish below 7700
- Below 7590 opens 7550
- Primary support 7635
- Primary objective 7860
- 5 Day VWAP bullish
- 20 Day VWAP bullish
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