AHT..

[Riz]

Schroder Salomon Smith Barney upgraded its recommendation on Ashetad to "buy, high risk" from "outperform, high risk" with the shares at 132p and set a fair value price target of 170p on the stock.

Down today -1.5 to 128...

 

[Riz]

Todays Telegraph: BUY at 132p suggests Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (128p this week). The broker has set a price target of 170p. The company has now secured the number four slot in the US equipment rental market. This is important as the US market contributes two-thirds of the company's profits and offers the potential for further growth. While other brokers may continue to be cautious, SSSB believes this is because they are placing too much emphasis on the uncertainty in the UK marketplace.

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[Riz]

Price remained the same today as we witnessed institutional buying:

Ashtead Group PLC - Holding in Company
Website Fundamentals Share Price (ISP users click here first )
RNS Number:9795V
Ashtead Group PLC
18 December 2000

DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1) NAME OF COMPANY

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

2) NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

PRUDENTIAL PLC

3) Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of
holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

FUND MANAGER (M&G INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED)

4) Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the
number of shares held by each of them.

PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC A/C 13,965,000

PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PPL A/C 60,545

5) Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

1,165,000



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[Cigar]

But if the US market is coming off the boil, this must be a big negative.