Admiral car business motors ahead
28th Apr 2010 07:32
Insurer Admiral has seen a 'great quarter' for its car insurance business, but competition continues to mount for its price comparison business Confused.com, where sales fell 5%. Total revenues rose by 28% to £345m, with the number of vehicles insured rising to 2.2m for the first time. There is no
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Footsie ahead despite ex-dividends
10th Mar 2010 16:19
Resources companies and banks are heading the risers on the Footsie, while the forward momentum has been held back by a raft of companies going ex-dividend. Rising copper prices have boosted the shares of Fresnillo, Eurasian Natural Resources and Xstrata. RBS upgraded oil services provider Petro
Read moreLondon close: Footsie suffers hiccup
4th Mar 2010 16:40
The blue chip index failed to stretch its winning streak to a fifth session, falling for the first time this week on negative results reaction and downbeat miners. It held above 5,500 all day despite coming close just after trade began and towards the end of play. Engineering and project managemen
Read moreLondon close: Insurers left behind
2nd Mar 2010 17:07
A firm start on Wall Street gave fresh heart to UK equities, with financial stocks to the fore, with the notable exception of insurers. Ahead of results tomorrow Standard Chartered was wanted in a buoyant banking sector while elsewhere in the financial sector property groups such as SEGRO and Hamme
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard boost
2nd Mar 2010 15:22
Financials and commodities are pushing the Footsie forward although Prudential is still falling back. Standard Chartered is rising ahead of its 2009 figures tomorrow. The Asia-focused bank is expected to announce profit before tax of $5.1bn. Market consensus is for earnings per share to fall somew
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie consolidates gains
2nd Mar 2010 14:13
Leading shares consolidated gains over the lunchtime session though it remains a bad day to be invested in the insurance sector. Insurer Prudential is under the cosh again as investors bale out ahead of an expected monster cash call to finance the group's acquisition of AIG's Asian assets. RSA In
Read moreLondon midday: Banks bounce back
2nd Mar 2010 12:08
Although base metal miners have reversed course and are now heading south the FTSE 100 index has added to early gains, helped by a surge in interest in banking shares. Ahead of results tomorrow Standard Chartered is leading the banking sector higher. Part-nationalised lenders Royal Bank of Scotland
Read moreLondon open: Steady start for Footsie
2nd Mar 2010 08:40
Footsie has edge higher in early dealings following a strong showing from Wall Street yesterday. After recent slew of results from the Footsie heavyweights it is the mid-caps day Persimmon completed 8,976 house sales last year and the housebuilder has seen a 7% increase in sales and steady prices s
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to edge up
2nd Mar 2010 07:37
Footsie is expected to edge higher in early dealings following a strong showing from Wall Street yesterday. Persimmon completed 8,976 house sales last year and the housebuilder has seen a 7% increase in sales and steady prices since the start of this year. The number of legal completions was down 1
Read moreAdmiral enjoys record year as premiums rise
2nd Mar 2010 07:27
Motor insurer Admiral reported record profits and sales in 2009, but cautioned conditions will remain challenging for its price comparison site Confused in 2010 as competition increases. Profit before tax at £215.8m was 7% ahead of 2008, while turnover rose 18% to £1.08bn. "In 2009 Admiral's conti
Read moreTuesday preview: Persimmon, Admiral, Jardine Lloyd
1st Mar 2010 16:03
Housebuilder Persimmon is expected to have completed almost 9,000 homes in 2009, raking in £1.4bn of revenue as it benefits from more stable market conditions. It flagged the numbers at the start of the year, so experts don't expect any surprises, but they'll be keen for any news on how things are
Read moreLondon close: Good gains for FTSE 100
18th Jan 2010 16:33
Footsie finished the day in the blue despite a sharp reversal in the fortunes of International Power, which earlier had soared on speculation of a takeover by French power giant GDF Suez. Shares in the energy company slid from their earlier highs after it admitted it held talks with GDF Suez about
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks keep climbing
18th Jan 2010 14:49
Ongoing bid speculation, stronger retailers and buoyant miners have pushed London above 5,500. International Power is top of the pile on press reports that French power giant GDF Suez has made a takeover approach to the group, but there has been no statement from either side over the truth of the s
Read moreLondon midday: Good morning for blue chips
18th Jan 2010 12:20
London's leading share index has enjoyed a good morning on hopes of a bid for International Power and a higher offer for Cadbury. IP is up nearly 5% after press reports that French power giant GDF Suez has made a takeover approach to the group, but there has been no statement from either side over
Read moreLondon open: M&A rumours in focus
18th Jan 2010 08:19
London's blue chips have made a good start to the new week, with International Power leading the way on takeover rumours. International Power is up more than 5% after press reports that French power giant GDF Suez has made a takeover approach to the group. Cadbury is also among this morning's rise
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