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Even a dead cat can bounce, so will Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments prove they have more life in them than that? by Carlo Svaluto There’s little hope that the UK mortgage market will suddenly perk up and halt what seems to be a continuing fall in house prices. Yet to some... READ MORE >>

Ahead of the interim results on 22 April, Andrew Nussey at KBC Peel Hunt has upgraded social housing and compliance services group Connaught to buy from add. The price target has also been nudged up to 475p from 450p as it anticipates the shares will rally once the financial figures are... READ MORE >>

Highly rated aerospace analyst Adrian Murray of Exane BNP Paribas has slapped an underperform rating on Cobham, yet the shares have so far proved remarkably robust. Murray's target price of 189p also seems unforgiving since the shares have held up at 209p, while most other aerospace sector... READ MORE >>

As the UK economy weakens, office cleaner to security services group MITIE could be a haven for investors, according to Altium analyst Ed Wright. He has upgraded the stock to buy from hold to reflect steady growth, good cash generation and minimal... READ MORE >>

Geoff Lowery of Dresdner Kleinwort was remarkably prescient with his downgrade of DSG International. Within 24 hours the group issued yet another profits warning which underlines its fundamental problems. The group confirmed that 2007/08 profits would be some £200 million to £210 million,... READ MORE >>

Andy Wade of Seymour Pierce altered his recommendation on Game Group shares from buy to hold after two weeks of strong price performance, a period that saw the stock rise 23% to 239p. Following a dismal performance in 2005/6 the group has enjoyed two years of very strong growth. Wade is... READ MORE >>

The absence of any nasty hidden surprises in its full-year results was enough to prompt an increase in Dresdner Kleinwort’s target price for media company Entertainment Rights. Analyst Richard Menezies Gow was pleased that the company had not revealed any deterioration in its debt levels... READ MORE >>

Care home operator Care UK has been upgraded from ‘neutral’ to ‘buy’ by UBS analyst Isabel Green. The upgrade came after the Department of Health approved three of Care UK’s four independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) contracts to proceed to financial close. ‘Although... READ MORE >>

‘The business should prove resilient in any economic slowdown, with a heavy emphasis on government subsidy rather than farebox risk,’ says Investec analyst Joe Thomas, who recently upgraded transport group Arriva from ‘sell’ to ‘hold’. The upgrade followed a fall in the share... READ MORE >>

It is not surprising that analysts rushed to cut their ratings on drug discovery company GW Pharmaceuticals after it revealed disappointing Phase III results for its lead product Sativex in multiple sclerosis pain. The company has been developing the cannabis-based drug for a number of years... READ MORE >>

by John Marshall Analysts have come out in strong support of retailer WH Smith after half-year figures from the company underlined the progress being... READ MORE >>

In the face of tough market conditions the night club operator is making the best of a bad lot by Dan... READ MORE >>

by Simon Keane In raising her recommendation to a buy, eagle-eyed Katrina Preston, of independent broker Landsbanki, notes that Rensburg Sheppards’ largest investor Investec will be free to sell its 47% holding next month. Investec’s shares were part payment for Carr Sheppards... READ MORE >>

by Dan Coatsworth Having seen its share price drop 30% in the first seven months after listing in June 2007, energy services group Eaga now warns of rising costs in social housing, where there is less high margin installation work and increased cost of... READ MORE >>

by Rachel Robson Despite market concerns about the potential impact of an economic slowdown on Go-Ahead’s performance, and the expected disposal of its Southern rail franchise, Goldman Sachs analyst Oliver Neal has upgraded the transport group from ‘neutral’ to... READ MORE >>

Tech company hits value price by Timon Day A pair of City analysts appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet over leading materials technology company Cookson. In completely independent moves, both Mark Fielding of Citigroup and Michael Blogg at Arbuthnot downgraded the stock... READ MORE >>

by Simon Keane There’s caution creeping into analysts’ views on emerging markets debt fund manager Ashmore. Ahead of last week’s third quarter interim management statement (IMS), Jason Street from independent broker Evolution reduced his recommendation from ‘buy’ to ‘add’. On ... READ MORE >>

by Susanna Twidale A settlement reached by pharma giant AstraZeneca over the patent for its best-selling drug Nexium has led to a swathe of upgrades and positive sentiment for the... READ MORE >>

by Tom Sieber Rumours of another massive resources find in Brazil have prompted Richard Griffiths, energy analyst at Evolution Securities, to slap a buy rating on BG Group. Up from his previous hold recommendation, Griffiths has also hiked his target price for the shares a whopping 25%,... READ MORE >>

by Susanna Twidale The financial information behemoth Thomson Reuters, formed by the merger of the two companies has failed to inspire analysts who issued a flurry of negative notes on its launch on the London market. ABN Amro’s Paul Godden, Barclay’s Amanda Purton and Collins... READ MORE >>