London open: Stocks give up gains ahead of US jobs report
2nd Sep 2011 08:26
Stocks have given up some of their recent gains amid nervousness ahead of this afternoon's big US jobs report. Among the fallers is drugs behemoth AstraZeneca, which has announced generally favourable results of tests of its cholesterol treatment, CRESTOR, though not the knock-out blow versus LIPIT
Read moreAstra's Crestor fails to outshine Lipitor
2nd Sep 2011 07:53
The eagerly awaited headline results from a clinical trial comparing AstraZeneca's cholesterol treatment Crestor to Pfizer's Lipitor have been released, and have not delivered the knock-out blow that the company was hoping for. The results for the primary efficacy measure of the study demonstrated
Read moreLondon pre-open: Heavy falls anticipated
2nd Sep 2011 07:18
Taking their lead from Wall Street, which closed lower ahead of today's August jobs data, London' leading shares are set to open well in the red, with City traders predicting the Footsie will open 82 points down from yesterday's close of 5,419. Drugs behemoth AstraZeneca has announced generally fav
Read moreComment: DMGT ponders Northcliffe options
1st Sep 2011 14:20
The closure of the Sunday tabloid the News of the World has given DMGT, publisher of the Mail on Sunday, a big boost. The consequent rise in revenues is likely to make a big difference to full-year profits at Associated Newspapers, DMGT's national newspaper division. Some had speculated that DMGT
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slide after US jobs disappointment
25th Aug 2011 16:39
After an uncertain start following a raft of mixed company updates, London's leading share index finished firmly in the red as some weak US jobs data set nerves on edge. Unemployment claims in the world's biggest economy unexpectedly rose by 5,000 to 417,000 in the week to 20 August. Traders are n
Read moreLondon midday: Mixed reception for deluge of updates
25th Aug 2011 12:10
London's leading share index is uncertain today as the continuing stream of company updates gets a mixed reception. Kazakhstan-focused copper miner Kazakhmys is in demand after it said underlying profits were 24% ahead in the first half and revealed details of a $250m buy-back programme. The group
Read moreLondon open: Company results drive FTSE 100 up 0.7%
25th Aug 2011 08:32
Some pleasing company results drove the Footsie higher in early trading while the banks were also providing a lift. Kazakhstan-focused copper miner Kazakhmys was a high riser after it said underlying profits were 24% ahead in the first half and revealed details of a $250m buy-back programme. The gr
Read moreSector movers: GSK gives pharma sector a booster
22nd Aug 2011 15:27
The pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector was among the best performing sectors on Monday, helped by its giant constituent GlaxoSmithKline. The FTSE 100 drugs and healthcare firm announced that it is to buy up over a quarter of UK-based biotech firm Autifony Therapeutics through its wholly-owned
Read moreSunday tips round-up: G4S, Gem Diamonds, Amec ...
21st Aug 2011 16:25
Security firm G4S has a good record of performing in tough times. In the last downturn, its top line growth never fell below 2%, and it has typically expanded at two percentage points above gross domestic product, notes James Ashton in the Sunday Times. Half-year results this week are expected to sh
Read moreBroker snap: Pfizer case to be positive for UK pharma stocks, says Matrix
16th Aug 2011 13:01
Matrix has highlighted the effect that the patent infringement case won by US pharmaceutical group Pfizer will have on its London-listed peers, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Shire. "Yesterday, Pfizer announced it had prevailed in its patent infringement action against generics company Teva Pharm
Read moreBroker tips: BATS, Pharma, Wincanton
16th Aug 2011 12:59
Nomura has raised its estimates for cigarette giant British American Tobacco, as a result of a strong first half performance and a positive second half pricing outlook. "Estimate increases are driven by encouraging first half organic performance (even ex Japan) and a positive pricing outlook going
Read moreLondon close: Late rally lifts stocks
28th Jul 2011 16:41
Stocks finished in positive territory after a choppy day, with US economic data helping to spark a late rally. Weekly Initial jobless claims in the world's biggest economy fell below 400,000 for the first time since April and homes sales data also came in ahead of expectations. The rush of company
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall back after news flurry
28th Jul 2011 12:00
Stocks are in the red after this morning's splurge of company updates. Anglo-Dutch integrated oil company Royal Dutch Shell fell after it reported net income on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, excluding specific items, of $6.6bn, compared to $4.2bn in the second quarter of last year. The fi
Read moreLondon open: Footsie opens lower after flurry of results
28th Jul 2011 08:34
After a flurry of company results this morning, the Footsie fell into the red. While investors digest the figures, in the back of their minds they are still fretting about the US debt ceiling negotiations, with the Republicans and Democrats set for a show-down later on today in the House of Represen
Read moreAstra raises earnings guidance
28th Jul 2011 07:56
Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca raised its full-year earnings outlook and pledged to return more cash to shareholders, as second-quarter sales and profits came in marginally ahead of expectations. Reported profit before tax slid 2%, or 4% on a constant exchange rates (CER) basis, to $2.86bn f
Read more