London midday: Risk appetite scaled back ahead of fiscal cliff deadline
31st Dec 2012 11:19
UK stocks were trading firmly in the red by Monday lunchtime with less than 24 hours to go before the US fiscal cliff deadline, when 600bn dollars in automatic spending cuts and tax increases come into effect. Markets were even shrugging off some upbeat economic data from Asian powerhouse China ove
Read moreEurope midday: Stocks fall as investors wait on US budget
28th Dec 2012 11:10
European equities declined by the midday mark Friday as investors waited nervously for the US to reach a budget deal. President Barack Obama is meeting with leaders later to tackle measures to avoid more than $600bn in spending cuts and tax hikes. Republican House Speaker John Boehner is holding
Read moreLondon open: Stocks open strongly on fiscal cliff hopes
28th Dec 2012 08:33
The FTSE 100 opened firmly in positive territory on Friday morning ahead of critical talks between US leaders this weekend. Stocks tracked Asian markets higher overnight with Japan's Nikkei finishing its final session of 2012 up around 0.7% (Japanese markets are closed on Monday). This means that t
Read moreLondon close: Footsie slips into the red by the close
14th Dec 2012 16:28
After a decent start after some upbeat Chinese data, the Footsie was pressured into the red by the close of trade on Friday following a weak open on Wall Street. Nevertheless, losses in London were only modest, with the blue-chip index remaining close to the nine-month high reached earlier this week
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners gain on comments from UBS
14th Dec 2012 16:01
Mining stocks were among the best performers on Monday afternoon after UBS said that 2013 could provide meaningful upside to some commodity prices. "In our opinion, the macro backdrop for commodities is improving, with the new Chinese/ US governments promising pro-growth policy," the broker said.
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Dec 2012 07:22
Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec reduces target price from 93p to 68p and downgrades from buy to hold. Numis downgrades to hold, while maintaining the target price at 165p. Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 93p to 90p and retains a buy recommendation. Anglo American: JP Morgan moves tar
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura names BHP Billiton as top pick of the miners
11th Dec 2012 10:09
Nomura has labelled BHP Billiton as its preferred name in the global metals and mining industry, reiterating its 'buy' recommendation and 2,350p target price for the shares. In Nomura's sector review, analyst Sam Catalano said: "With the broader market showing little conviction on where the global
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
11th Dec 2012 07:18
Andor Technology: WH Ireland raises target price from 480p to 500p, while maintaining a buy rating. Anglo American: Nomura cuts target price from 2000p to 1800p keeping a neutral rating. Antofagasta: Nomura reduces target price from 1450p to 1400p and downgrades from buy to neutral. Ashtead Group
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
10th Dec 2012 07:10
Andor Technology: Investec moves target price from 450p to 460p, while reiterating its buy recommendation. Antofagasta: Alphavalue downgrades to reduce, while keeping the target price at 1371p. Ashtead Group: Investec target price from 250p to 475p and reiterates its buy recommendation. Atkins: J
Read moreLondon midday: Markets cautious ahead of US jobs report
7th Dec 2012 11:45
The FTSE 100 was trading within a tight range on Friday morning as caution set in ahead of the eagerly-anticipated US employment report later today. However, providing a drag on sentiment this morning was newsflow from Germany: the Bundesbank now expects just 0.4% growth in the economy next year, d
Read moreLondon close: Stocks edge higher as markets look to US jobs report
6th Dec 2012 16:33
- BoE and ECB keep policy on hold - Draghi says ECB discussed rate cut - Eyes turn to US employment report London's blue-chip index finished with slight gains on Thursday after central banks in the UK and Europe announced that they had kept policy on hold, with the market's focus now turning to the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Rolls-Royce drops on fraud investigation
6th Dec 2012 15:42
Power systems giant Rolls-Royce tanked after saying that it is to report to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after matters of bribery and corruption involving so-called 'intermediaries' were discovered in Indonesia and China. BAE Systems performed well today. Lockheed Martin is close to winning Pent
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise ahead of Osborne's Autumn Statement
5th Dec 2012 08:29
Equity markets rose on Wednesday morning after strong gains for Asian markets overnight with the focus in the UK turning to George Osborne ahead of his budget statement. "In a week dominated by Europe and the on-going to-ing and fro-ing in the US with respect to the fiscal cliff, markets will be tu
Read moreLondon close: Miners surge on US hopes
29th Nov 2012 16:39
- US GDP and housing data boosts stocks - 'Fiscal cliff' concerns ease after politicians' comments - Mining stocks rise on demand hopes Hopes about the US economy were driving gains on Thursday as investors reacted positively to comments from politicians about the 'fiscal cliff' and decent economic
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise after 'optimistic' comments on 'fiscal cliff'
29th Nov 2012 11:41
Hopes that the US can avert the impending 'fiscal cliff' were helping markets register decent gains on Thursday morning, following comments from policy-makers Stateside yesterday. US Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner said that he was "optimistic that we can continue to work together to a
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