London 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
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early gains ahead
18th Jan 2010 07:34
London's top stocks look set for a positive start to the week, with traders expecting Footsie to add around 30 points in early dealings. American food giant Kraft is reportedly preparing to raise its hostile offer for UK chocolate maker Cadbury before next week's final deadline. The new offer is
Read moreASOS growth continues
18th Jan 2010 07:11
ASOS, the online fashion retailer, enjoyed a good Christmas with both sales and margins strong and growth both in the UK and abroad, though sales growth did slow from earlier in the year. Sales rose 30% year on year in the 5 weeks to 3 January and were up by 38% for the 42 weeks to 17 January. UK
Read moreBroker snap: ASOS on super-premium
11th Dec 2009 13:28
It's a case of 'nice company, shame about the share price' for online fashion retailer ASOS in the eyes of Charles Stanley. The broker has initiated coverage of the stock with a 'sell' recommendation and a price target of 350p, calling its rating 'primarily a valuation call'. The fast growing comp
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Bank bonuses, Regal Petroleum, Lloyds Banking
17th Nov 2009 06:32
Bankers who are not prepared to forgo controversial contracts that flout new rules on bonuses should get out of the mainstream industry, Lord Myners has declared. The City Minister fired a warning shot ahead of the Queen's Speech tomorrow, which will outline plans to forbid guaranteed bonuses and o
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 moreASOS profit growth slows
16th Nov 2009 07:43
Profits growth slowed sharply over the past six months at online fashion retailer ASOS, though sales continued to bound ahead. Pre-tax profits to September came in at £4.4m, up 9%, on sales 47% higher at £96.5m. ASOS blamed the reduction in margins to 44.6% (from 48.3% in H1 2008/09) on increased s
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Smiths Group, Man, FirstGroup
1st Oct 2009 05:53
Smiths says that it has felt a pick-up in some markets since the end of its financial year. Second, cost-saving measures, including tighter management of working capital, have done much to mitigate recession. It was relief that full-year profits were no worse that sent the shares up 6 per cent. But
Read moreLondon close: Best ever quarterly gain for Footsie
30th Sep 2009 17:00
Wall Street fell out of bed at the start of its trading day after the release of disappointing business activity data and London quickly followed the US market downwards. However, a rally in the last half hour ensured that the FTSE 100 enjoyed its best ever quarterly percentage gain since the index
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still lacking direction
30th Sep 2009 14:20
Footsie has continued its recent sluggish run, with company updates pulling the leading share index in both directions, but remains set for a record quarterly gain. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the in
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 on course for record quarter
30th Sep 2009 12:13
Footsie still looks on course for a record quarterly gain, but early strong rises have been whittled away ahead of the US open. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the industry, the performance outlook is h
Read moreBroker tips: Man Group, Thomas Cook, ASOS
30th Sep 2009 11:46
Man Group's fan club was out in force after an upbeat trading statement from the hedge fund manager on Wednesday. Evolution Securities rates the shares a 'buy', taking the view that the worst is behind Man now, with funds under management growing and redemptions declining. 'We retain our buy recom
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