London afternoon: Shares rally on QE hopes
8th Oct 2010 14:37
US jobless data proved to be much worse than expected, with non-farm payrolls declining 95,000 in September when they had been expected to remain virtually unchanged, but the 'glass half full' optimists have taken the view that this makes a resumption of economic stimulus by the Federal Reserve more
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start ahead of jobs data
8th Oct 2010 08:52
London has opened quietly as traders focus on the US where September's non-farm payrolls numbers are due to be released this afternoon. Expectations are for a 5,000 increase in non-farm payrolls, while the unemployment rate is expected to nudge up to 9.7% from 9.6% in August. Until those numbers a
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish for Footsie as miners march ahead
6th Oct 2010 16:48
It was the surge in US shares yesterday rather than today's nervous performance that provided a lead for Footsie, helping London's top share index close with good gains. A nasty jobs report sent jitters through US markets. Private sector employers cut 39,000 jobs in September, against a gain of 10,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Airlines flying high
6th Oct 2010 14:30
Profit takers have skimmed off some of the cream of the gains seen this morning on mining stocks while the two big trading updates of the day have also sparked negative reactions, but Footsie remains comfortably in positive territory. Metals prices have strengthened in line with a weaker dollar, w
Read moreSector movers: Metals rise boosts miners
6th Oct 2010 14:22
With metals prices on the rise mining stocks are going well. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are still sporting handsome gains. Metals prices have strengthened in line with a weaker dollar, which comes amid speculation the Federal Reserve will implement more monetary stimulus mea
Read moreLondon midday: Autonomy cuts revenue guidance
6th Oct 2010 12:01
With metals prices on the rise mining stocks were the shares to hold in a morning session that saw Footsie make an assault on the 5700 level before falling away in the hour before noon. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are still sporting handsome gains. Metals prices have strength
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips power forward
6th Oct 2010 08:52
London's leading index has hit fresh five-month highs after the surge on Wall Street overnight. Footsie is now at its highest since April. Miners are driving the gains this morning with the top five risers all mining companies. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are the best perform
Read moreTanfield buying boosts shares
4th Oct 2010 16:54
Two directors of commercial electric vehicles manufacturer Tanfield have added to their holdings and sparked a jump in the share price. The shares have risen by one-third to 19.75p each. AIM-quoted Tanfield raised £1.8m after expenses from a recent open offer to shareholders at 10p a share but thi
Read moreLondon open: Gains short-lived
4th Oct 2010 08:37
Renewed interest in the insurance sector and strong miners nudged London into positive territory, but Monday morning blues soon kicked in and stocks are now in the red. Reports in his morning's papers reveal RSA, Resolution, Switzerland's Zurich Financial Services and Germany's Allianz discussed mo
Read moreLondon close: Footsie rallies after shaky start
24th Sep 2010 16:50
The roller coaster ride continued heading into the weekend, with shares rallying to finish with good gains following a drop in the morning. Shares have been jittery for most of the week, with traders unsure how to react to Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's comments on the US economy on Tuesd
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Arm bid rumours
24th Sep 2010 14:52
Chip designer ARM is higher due to bid rumours. Oracle says that it is interested in buying chip companies and ARM is a potential target, although US firm AMD is probably more likely. Miners are the worst performers headed by Antofagasta, Kazakhmys, and Anglo American after a downbeat note from UB
Read moreLondon midday: Miners do the damage
24th Sep 2010 12:05
It's been a rollercoaster morning for London's blue chips, although pretty much all the volatility has happened in negative territory as miners struggle. HSBC, little changed at lunchtime, has hogged the headlines. Reports suggest that current chief executive Mike Geohegan will leave at the end of
Read moreLondon open: Heavyweights drag Footsie lower
24th Sep 2010 08:57
Footsie has opened lower with the heavyweight sectors of banks and miners both heading south. Speculation over the power struggle at the top of global banking giant HSBC has dominated early proceedings in London. Reports suggest that current chief executive Mike Geohegan will leave at the end of th
Read moreLondon close: Strong run continues
13th Sep 2010 16:42
Shares continued rising Monday as they reacted positively to new banking regulations and Chinese economic data. London is up for the fourth session in a row and trading higher for the eleventh day out of twelve, up at a new four-month high. Stocks haven't been this high since 30 April. Banks were
Read moreLondon afternoon: Buyers buzzing
13th Sep 2010 15:27
The leading index is near its best levels of the day following a strong start on Wall Street, fuelled by new Basel III bank rules and impressive Chinese factory output. London is up for the fourth session in a row and trading higher for the eleventh day out of twelve, up at a new four-month high. S
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