Standard Life executives add to holdings
11th Mar 2010 17:08
Life insurer Standard Life's executive directors have added to their shareholdings following Wednesday's full year results. Chief executive David Nish's wife Caroline has bought 75,000 shares at 206.05p each. This investment of nearly £155,000 takes the Nish family stake to 261,981 shares. Nish
Read moreAmlin non-exec trebles shareholding
4th Mar 2010 16:48
Non-executive director Tony Holt has bought more than £2m worth of shares in insurance underwriter Amlin. Holt bought 500,000 shares at 411.75p each, which takes his shareholding to 759,102 shares. Holt joined Amlin in 1980 and was appointed to the board in 2000. He was group underwriting direct
Read moreNew Lloyds non-exec David Roberts spends £200,000
3rd Mar 2010 15:27
David Roberts, recently appointed as a non-executive director at the bank, has wasted no time in signalling his faith in his new employers, buying nearly £200,000 of shares. Roberts bought 378,670 shares at 52.55p a time. Roberts' appointment was announced on 11 February, following an interview wi
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Amlin, Goals Soccer, SDL
2nd Mar 2010 06:44
In common with its sector, underwriter Amlin will struggle to replicate 2009's strong investment returns. With about half its portfolio sitting in short-dated government bonds or cash, the best hope lies with the company's ability to take advantage of any rise in interest rates. At 404½p, the shar
Read moreLondon close: Strong finish for FTSE 100
1st Mar 2010 16:30
The leading share index finished on a strong footing as strength in the mining sector and gains on the back of company updates helped offset a weak performance from financial stocks. Miners were in demand following a rise in copper prices following the earthquake in Chile, the world's number one p
Read moreLondon afternoon: Copper-bottomed advance
1st Mar 2010 14:15
Gains on mining stocks are more than offsetting losses in an insurance sector that has been rocked by the prospect of a huge rights call from Prudential. Confirmation that Pru may pay $35bn (£23bn) for the Asian business of troubled US insurer AIG has unsettled the insurers. Any deal would need to
Read moreLondon midday: Pru deal casts shadow
1st Mar 2010 12:01
Gains have been eroded steadily through the morning to leave the leading index up by a baker's dozen as Prudential slumps on rights issue fears and miners step back. Confirmation that Pru may pay $35bn (£23bn) for the Asian business of troubled US insurer AIG ate into London's early 60-point lead.
Read moreLondon open: Footsie strong despite Pru cash call looming
1st Mar 2010 08:46
Leading shares have started the week on a firm footing with miners strong, but the prospect of the Prudential shortly unveiling the largest rights issue ever seen in the UK has unsettled other life groups. Prudential is currently suspended while the details are sorted out. The group has confirmed w
Read moreAmlin profits surge over 300%
1st Mar 2010 07:57
Underwriter Amlin enjoyed a bumper 2009 with profits rising by more than 300% as low claims combined with a record performance from its investment arm. Pre-tax profits jumped from £121.6m to £509.1m with a return on equity of 37%. The investment side contribution rose to £207.5m from £18m, while on
Read moreRBS boss Hester sells shares
24th Nov 2009 16:16
Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hester has sold £94,000 of shares in order to finance the income tax and National Insurance payable on the release of 610,688 restricted shares. He retains 359,802 of those released shares. Hester had previously raised £102,000 and £53,566 from share
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Lonmin, Cranswick, Amlin
17th Nov 2009 06:39
Away from the Xstrata situation, there is little reason to get excited about Lonmin. The group suffered as platinum prices fell last year, and even as demand for the metal has improved, the strength of the rand in South Africa, where Lonmin has its operations, has not helped. The platinum miner sa
Read moreLondon close: Good as gold
16th Nov 2009 16:56
Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared. Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sainsbury slides on sales leak
16th Nov 2009 14:31
After getting off to a flying start, the FTSE 100 index has drifted sideways since the middle of the morning. A larger part of the blue-chip index's gain is down to mining stocks, which are in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin leads the sector higher despite reporting a full-y
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains consolidated
16th Nov 2009 12:11
Stock prices saw a modest amount of profit taking after the Footsie hit a 14-month high. Lonmin is leading the mining sector higher despite reporting a full-year loss. The South African platinum miner fell into the red in the year to September 30 as prices for the precious metal slumped in line wit
Read moreLondon open: Winning start to week
16th Nov 2009 08:42
Mining heavyweights head the pack Monday, notching up strong gains on record gold prices and demand for other metals. Randgold is top of the pile after gold hit a new record high. Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Kazakhmys are also riding high. Even Lonmin is better despite reporting a full-year loss. The S
Read more