Sector movers: Miners in demand as weak China data lifts stimulus hopes
23rd Apr 2015 15:53
It was a case of bad data being good news for the mining sector on Thursday as stocks surged on hopes for further stimulus in China. A HSBC survey said the Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell from 49.6 to a one-year low of 49.2, surprising analysts who had expected no change. Econ
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Anglo American, utility stocks surge
23rd Apr 2015 13:30
Anglo American, owner of jeweler De Beers, surged on Thursday as the mining giant cut its forecast for annual diamond production in order to avoid overproduction in the weaker diamond market. United Utilities, SSE and Centrica was making gains as investors sought refuge in defensive utility stocks.
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase losses after UK deficit revision, but gains limited
23rd Apr 2015 12:06
London's stocks had erased losses by Thursday lunchtime though upside was limited as investors showed caution following a raft of mostly disappointing global economic data. The FTSE 100, which had dropped to a low of 6,995.79 in mid-morning trade, was broadly flat (+0.02%) at 7,029.97 by midday. Re
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as Chinese and Eurozone PMIs miss forecasts
23rd Apr 2015 08:47
UK stocks inched lower on Thursday morning after purchasing managers' index (PMI) data from both China and Europe disappointed. The FTSE 100 was down 0.13% at 7,018.93 within the opening hour, with ex-dividend stocks keeping the index in the red. Overnight, a HSBC survey showed that Chinese manufac
Read moreAnglo reports mixed Q1 production, lowers diamond guidance
23rd Apr 2015 07:36
Diversified mining giant Anglo American said it delivered a "solid" production performance in the first quarter, in line with its expectations despite two of its three largest divisions experiencing declines in output. The company held on to full-year production guidance for most of its commodity cl
Read moreLondon close: Late rally pushes FTSE higher after choppy session
21st Apr 2015 16:25
UK stocks ended a choppy session in the green as an afternoon rally saw the FTSE 100 erase losses and push back towards its record high. "A good set of European earnings results sent stocks in Europe back towards all-time highs on Tuesday, sustained by ECB bond-buying and the lingering effects of th
Read moreSector movers: Rio Tinto leads miners lower on weak Q1, broker downgrade
21st Apr 2015 14:52
Mining stocks were among the worst performers on Tuesday afternoon as investors booked profits after a strong showing the previous session. Metal producers' shares had surged on Monday following news that China has lowered its reserve requirement ratio by the most since 2008 in an effort to spur ban
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sky rockets on Q3 results, miners and oils stocks lower
21st Apr 2015 13:44
Sky topped the FTSE 100 risers after third-quarter results showed the most growth in 11 years. The broadcaster grew customer numbers 70%, which fed through to a 20% increase in operating profits. Smartphone and tablet microchip designer ARM Holdings surged after beating its own guidance with a 14% j
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, Anglo American, SABMiller, Kingfisher
21st Apr 2015 11:28
Mining giants Rio Tinto and Anglo American were under the cosh in London as analysts at Barclays Capital lowered their recommendations on both stocks after slashing their commodity prices forecasts. The broker downgraded its rating on Rio from 'overweight' to 'equal weight', cautioning that the comp
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase gains as ongoing Greek debt saga hits sentiment
21st Apr 2015 11:28
After briefly coming close to their intraday record high, UK stocks dropped into the red by Tuesday lunchtime after data showed that the Greek debt saga was weighing on economic confidence in Germany. Heavy falls in the mining sector were also hitting markets, offsetting well-received quarterly earn
Read moreRio and Anglo downgraded as BarCap slashes commodity estimates
21st Apr 2015 09:17
Mining giants Rio Tinto and Anglo American were under the cosh in London as analysts at Barclays Capital slashed their commodity prices forecasts and lowered their recommendations on both shares. While acknowledging that the average institutional investor has very little interest in commodity price
Read moreLondon open: FTSE back near record high as updates from Sky and ARM impress
21st Apr 2015 09:09
UK stocks were renewing their push towards record highs again on Tuesday, helped by well-received results from blue chips Sky and ARM Holdings. The FTSE 100 was up 0.60% at 7,094.78 within the opening hour. The index rose as high as 7,105.13 early on, just shy of its intraday record of 7,119.35 rea
Read moreLondon close: Chinese stimulus lifts stocks despite ongoing Greek uncertainty
20th Apr 2015 16:35
Stocks rebounded on Monday after as measures by policymakers in China to boost bank lending helped to repair sentiment after recent losses, despite ongoing uncertainty in Greece. London's FTSE 100 finished the session 0.82% higher at 7,052.13, with mining stocks leading the rise on increased hopes f
Read moreLondon midday: Chinese stimulus boosts miners, IHG gains
20th Apr 2015 11:26
Stimulus measures to spur bank lending in China gave UK stock markets a boost on Monday morning, with mining shares leading the charge after a sell-off the previous session. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.7% at 7,041.74 by midday, pulling back after hitting a high of 7,067.84 early on. The index droppe
Read moreLondon open: Mining stocks lift FTSE on PBoC stimulus
20th Apr 2015 09:07
UK stocks rose strongly on Monday morning as markets rebounded after a heavy sell-off the previous session, as sentiment recovered over the weekend following stimulus measures in China. "The markets were buoyed this morning by the news that China's central bank has taken fresh, if tentative, steps i
Read more