McGay reduces holding in Mongolian explorer
1st Mar 2010 16:21
Chief executive Douglas McGay's shareholding in Mongolian oil explorer Petro Matad has reduced by 1.8m shares. McGay has an interest in Investec Sino Corporation which sold 800,000 Petro Matad shares for 30p each, thereby raising £240,000. He has transferred his interest in Titoni Corporation, whi
Read moreLondon close: Footsie slips back
22nd Feb 2010 16:36
Footsie struggled to find any sense of direction on a quiet day's trading, closing slightly in the red. Bunzl showed a healthy rise as the market was encouraged by a strong second half for the group that saw margins improve. Foreign exchange tailwinds enabled the outsourcing and distribution group
Read moreLondon afternoon: RBS heads the field
22nd Feb 2010 14:45
The lunch-time session was a positive one for blue-chip equities despite Wall Street opening modestly lower, with banks and miners leading the advance. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has usurped Bunzl as the best performer of the day. The part-nationalised lender, like its counterpart Lloyds Banking,
Read moreBroker tips: Income stocks, AB Foods, Reed Elsevier
22nd Feb 2010 13:11
Barclays Capital is advising its clients to buy 'high quality dividend stocks' as dividend yields trade close to historical highs relative to bond yields. Barclays Capital (BarCap) has identified 20 European high quality dividend stocks, a list that includes UK stocks Cable & Wireless, RSA, BP, Ast
Read moreBroker snap: Growth potential at AB Foods
22nd Feb 2010 12:45
British Sugar and Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) is an unusual beast, in Panmure Gordon's opinion, in that it is a defensive stock that also offers strong profits growth. ABF's performance in the first half of its financial year was impressive, the broker reckons, though having lifted
Read moreLondon close: Healthy gain for Footsie
14th Jan 2010 16:26
London blue chips rose near the close to finish the day handily ahead, despite a disappointing response to the latest retail updates. Primark and British Sugar owner Associated British Foods was one of the few risers. The group had a better than anticipated end to 2009 and expects a 'significant in
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners on the up again
14th Jan 2010 15:29
Miners kept Footsie in the blue yet again, with Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Antofagasta among the best performers. Rio Tinto hailed another very strong quarter for iron ore production, driven by continuing high demand from China' as it published its fourth quarter operations review. The comp
Read moreLondon afternoon: US data hits London
14th Jan 2010 14:28
Disappointing US retail sales for December had repercussions this side of the pond, prompting the morning's gains to be pared. US retail sales fell by 0.3% month-on-month in December, against expectations of a slight rise. Miners remain wanted with Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Antofagasta am
Read moreLondon midday: Miners lift Footsie
14th Jan 2010 12:08
Footsie is in the blue as strength in the mining sector offsets weakness among retailers following a stream of updates from the sector. Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta are all among the best performers. Rio Tintohailed another very strong qu
Read moreLondon open: Miners leading the way
14th Jan 2010 08:25
Miners are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings on a busy day on the company news front. Xstrata, Vedanta Resources, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta are all among the best performers. Rio Tinto hailed another very strong quarter for ir
Read moreLondon pre-open: Strong performance in store
14th Jan 2010 07:50
It's been a hectic start to the day with mostly favourable trading updates from the big hitters. Share prices look set to follow Wall Street's lead and open higher, with the FTSE 100 index expected to open up 47 points higher at 5,520. Mining giant Rio Tinto hailed 'another very strong quarter for
Read moreAB Foods confident of earnings uplift
14th Jan 2010 07:14
Primark and British Sugar owner Associated British Foods had a better than anticipated end to 2009, and said it expects a ‘significant increase’ in operating profits in 2010. Group revenue in the 16 weeks to 2 January was 17% higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year, or 11% on a
Read moreThursday preview: DSG, Halfords, Home Retail ...
13th Jan 2010 16:36
Another slew of retailers are set to update the market on Thursday on how trading went over Christmas, among them DSG International, Halfords, Home Retail and Mothercare. Consumer electronics retailer DSG, which owns the Currys, PC World and Dixons brands, issues a trading update covering the final
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: British Gas, British Airways, Bonuses
10th Jan 2010 11:21
Energy companies have been accused of profiteering by failing to pass on steep falls in world gas prices to consumers at a time when bitterly cold weather means soaring bills for tens of millions of customers. Consumer watchdog Consumer Focus is calling for a Competition Commission investigation to
Read moreFairpoint chairman raises interest
23rd Dec 2009 15:49
Fairpoint non-executive chairman Matthew Peacock has added to his interest in the debt management business formerly known as Debt Free Direct. Peacock is a partner in Hanover Investors Management and Hanover Investors Management (Cayman) has acquired 181,720 shares at 55p a share. This takes the t
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