THE TIPSTER
Utility stock Severn Trent reports interim results on Thursday and investors will be hoping to hear that their bumper dividend payout is safe. A typical defensive play, the shares have performed well in 2011 gaining over 7 per cent. With uncertainty continuing, equity investors may well continue to seek the safe haven properties of the share. Capital Spreads quotes a price of 1,569.2p-1,571.8p for Severn Trent.
Right now it’s looking like a dismal finish to 2011 across the board, although can US retailers serve up some festive cheer in the coming days? The Thanksgiving holiday will see US financial markets close on Thursday, but the shopping frenzy that follows – with Black Friday and Cyber Monday – will arguably be as closely scrutinised as any missive from the Fed or ECB. Current IG Index price on the Dow is 11,507-11,509.
Pub chain Enterprise Inns is hoping that its full year results won’t entail too much of a hangover today as it looks back on a tough year for the pub management industry. CMC Markets offers a spread on Enterprise Inns of 28.984p-29.265p.
In the same week that Amazon.com kicks off its big Black Friday sales, it had a bit of a Black Monday as its shares tumbled $11 to three month lows of $186. It has fallen some 25 per cent in a month, but has run into long-term trend line support that goes back three years, which might halt the slide and set it up for a return towards $200-$204. Spread Co offers a spread on Amazon.com of $186.64-$187.01.