UK Short Selling

UK short selling hits highest level since Truss and all stock picks are a mix of 80% BUY, 12% HOLD and 8% SELL

1. OVERWEIGHT Standard Chartered

Top performing stock pick this week is OVERWEIGHT Standard Chartered by JP Morgan with a tip performance of 8%.

Standard Chartered is a British multinational bank with 90% of profits coming from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Founded in 1853, Standard Chartered has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It has secondary listings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

On 21st February the bank release full year results in this RNS stating better than expected results leading to an increase in share price. Deutsche Bank reiterated its HOLD rating and upped the target price to 1,250p from 1,182p.

In Stockomendation five analysts with four different ratings they are Deutsche Bank with HOLD, JP Morgan with OVERWEIGHT, Goldman Sachs and Citi are NEUTRAL and Barclays is EQUAL WEIGHT. One open UK fund manager short position, view that here.

2. BUY B&M

Second top performing stock pick this week is BUY B&M European Value Retail by Peel Hunt with a tip performance of 8%.

B&M is a British multinational variety store and garden centre chain founded in 1978. Listed on the London Stock Exchange it is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

B&M is part of the Luxembourg B&M European Value Retail S.A., which owns Heron Foods and operates the B&M stores in France.

B&M share price listed at 283p in 2014, rose to an all-time high of 640p in 2021 and is today at 284p.

On 25th February the company issued a profit warning and announced the departure of its chief executive in this RNS. As a result shares plunged 7% causing it to fall to the ‘bottom of the FTSE 250.’Shares regained slightly by 26th February as bargain hunters sought to buy causing this tip to perform at 8%.

Three out of five analysts say BUY they are Deutsche Bank, Canaccord Genuity & Bank of America; JP Morgan has UNDERWEIGHT and Jefferies says HOLD. Five UK fund manager short positions open, view those here.

3. BUY Lloyds Banking

Third top performing stock pick this week is BUY Lloyds Banking Group by Jefferies with a tip performance of 6%.

Lloyds Banking Group plc is one of the UK's largest financial services organisations, with 30 million customers and 65,000 employees. Founded in 1765 with parts going back to 1695, it is based in Gresham Street, London.

Lloyds Banking Group share price is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker LLOY and it is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

On 20th February it released its annual results in this RNS stating 11% higher than expected fourth quarter profits. As a result Barclays upped their target price 10p and Deutsche Bank by 8p.

In Stockomendation five analysts with four different ratings: Deutsche Bank and Jefferies with BUY, Barclays with OVERWEIGHT, JP Morgan has UNDERPERFORM and RBC Capital says SECTOR PERFORM. There are no active short positions open.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be considered financial advice. Pricing data correct as at 27th February 2025.