LONDON -- The FTSE 100 (INDEX: ^FTSE ) slid a bit further from its recent month-high of 5,989 points today, dropping 16 points to 5,837. Still, unless we get any fresh eurozone shocks, it seems more likely to make a new 52-week high than a low in the coming months.
But a stagnation in the index of the U.K.'s biggest shares isn't holding back individual constituents of the FTSE indexes. Here are three that have hit new 52-week highs this week.
TUI Travel
TUI Travel (LSE: TT.L ) hit a new peak on Monday of 212.3 pence before falling back a little, just pipping February's high of 210.2 pence. Though the shares slid to a low of 158 pence in June, they've recovered 32% since then to 208.2 pence. Interim figures on Aug. 9 showed strengthening trading, with bookings up for higher-priced premium holidays, and we saw a cash flow improvement as well.
Based on forecasts, the shares are on a full year price-to-earnings ratio of under 9, with a 5.5% dividend yield expected. Does that look cheap? Well, it could be, if the mooted recovery continues through the winter booking season.
Howden
Howden Joinery (LSE: HWDN.L ) has had a great year so far, and is more than 50% up on 12 months ago. And after a steady climb since the middle of May, the shares hit a new 52-week high of 145.4 pence on Monday.
Profits have been recovering slowly since the end of 2009, and though there isn't much of a dividend expected yet (still only around 1%), forecasts put the shares on a forward P/E of 10-11, and the firm has net cash.
Old Mutual
As further evidence of a strengthening insurance sector, Old Mutual (LSE: OML.L ) also reached a new year-high on Monday, hitting 173 pence. That's more than 50% up on a year ago, and by year-end we should be seeing further progress in the firm's dividend recovery after an interim payout of 1.75 pence per share was announced.
Analysts have 3.6% penciled in for this year, with 4.3% next, from shares on a P/E of 9.5, falling to 8.3. The rest of the insurer's interim figures, released Aug. 8, suggested slow and steady recovery.
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