London midday: London shrugs off GDP shock
24th Jul 2009 11:54
After a shaky opening the market is moving steadily ahead, despite receiving a jolt from much worse than expected gross domestic product (GDP) figures. Output contracted 0.8% between April and June after a 2.4% decline in the first quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics' flash est
Read moreDe Beers profits crushed
24th Jul 2009 08:21
First half profit plunged by nearly 80% at De Beers, the world's largest diamond miner, as the recession forced people to rethink plans for an expensive rock. Profit before finance charges and tax fell to just $140m in the first six months of 2009 from $662m a year ago. Sales more than halved to $1
Read moreLondon open: Water groups fall
23rd Jul 2009 08:17
London's top stocks have opened slightly lower, with utilities among the main fallers after Ofwat called for lower water bills. The water regulator outlined proposals that would see the average water bill fall by £14 to £330 before inflation between 2010 and 2015. United Utilities is leading the fa
Read moreLondon close: Footsie continues winning week
16th Jul 2009 16:36
London made it four positive sessions in a row Thursday as some better banks and strength at Petrofac offset largely weaker miners and a big drop at Autonomy. There was little help from Wall Street though, which was trading flat when the City shut up shop. The FTSE 100 has made up about 260 points
Read moreLondon afternoon: Advance gains momentum
16th Jul 2009 15:08
Footsie looks set to make it four days of rises in a row, with a firmer start on Wall Street giving an additional boost in the afternoon session. Risers outnumber fallers by three to one but among the fallers is data search software firm Autonomy, despite registering its 25th consecutive quarter of
Read moreLondon midday: Market rises but Autonomy disappoints
16th Jul 2009 11:53
London's blue-chip index has limped back into positive territory, despite weakness from the heavily weighted mining sector. Data search software firm Autonomy has registered its 25th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. Citigroup thought the results were "solid" and took "most of the bear a
Read moreLondon close: Footsie falls for fourth week
10th Jul 2009 17:04
London's blue-chip index fell for the fourth week in succession, with insurance and resource stocks the major fallers today. Aviva was the biggest casualty as fears resurfaced about the future of the company's dividend but its fellow life assurance stocks Prudential, Standard Life, Legal & General
Read moreLondon afternoon: Equities drift down in quiet trading
10th Jul 2009 14:06
London equities are sleepwalking to a dull end to a dull week. Life assurance stocks feature among the weakest performers as global markets continue to drift lower. Aviva, Prudential and Standard Life suffer the biggest falls in the sector. In the mining sector Rio Tinto is still under a cloud aft
Read moreLondon midday: Downward drift continues
10th Jul 2009 12:23
Equities continue to drift lower with blue-chips faring worse than second-liners. Better than expected Producer Prices data has limited the falls in London but expectations of a weak opening on Wall Street has not helped matters. UK producer output prices in June fell 0.2%, after rising 0.4% in May
Read moreLondon open: Crude dip drags Footsie down
10th Jul 2009 08:44
London's blue chips have given back some of yesterday's gains though trading is light after a dull day on Wall St yesterday. Oil-related stocks are the main movers, with light crude futures dipping below $60 per barrel for the first time in weeks. Royal Dutch Shell and BP are weak in sympathy. Oil
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie points lower
10th Jul 2009 07:41
London's top stocks look set to give back some of yesterday's gains. Traders expects Footsie to open around 15 points lower. Bovis has scrapped its interim dividend but said the housing market has shown signs of stabilisation during the first half. The housebuilder said it has decided not to pay
Read moreAnglo American confirms Parker as chairman
10th Jul 2009 07:13
Anglo American has confirmed the appointment of Sir John Parker as chairman from the end of the month succeeding Sir Mark Moody-Stuart who is to retire after seven years as chairman. Sir John is chairman of National Grid and is also joint chairman of the Mondi Group and a former chair of the Court
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Anglo American appoints Parker as chairman
10th Jul 2009 06:23
Sir John Parker will be named the new chairman of Anglo American today in a move that will further bolster the miner's defence against a merger approach from Xstrata. Sir John is expected to step down from the chairmanship of Mondi, the paper company that was spun out of Anglo two years ago, but w
Read moreLondon close: Modest gains as US struggles
9th Jul 2009 16:33
Equities held onto gains despite a lacklustre final session as Wall St struggled to make headway. Mining stocks continue to dominate the list of risers. Silver miner Fresnillo is the best performer after being upgraded to "buy" by Citigroup. In contrast the US bank had downgraded gold miner Rand
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally gathers pace
9th Jul 2009 14:46
Equities pushed higher over the lunch-time session, boosted by expectations of a firm start on Wall Street. Mining stocks continue to dominate the list of risers. Silver miner Fresnillo is the best performer after being upgraded to "buy" by Citigroup. In contrast the US bank had downgraded gold min
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