London pre-open: Not too busy to fret about US debt
28th Jul 2011 07:39
There has been a hectic schedule of big company results already this morning to keep traders occupied but 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 Representatives.
Read moreThursday preview: Shell, Astra, Compass
27th Jul 2011 17:46
Investment analysts are going to need a plentiful supply of pencils and rubber erasers on Thursday for what is possibly the busiest day of the year so far for big company updates. Companies scheduled to update the market include AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, BT Group, Centrica, Croda International, Inc
Read moreLondon close: Footsie closes higher, despite afternoon sell-off
22nd Jul 2011 16:31
After a solid start on the back of positive developments in Europe, the Footsie trimmed gains in the afternoon as investors looked to lock in profits following a strong finish on Thursday. Despite touching as high as the 5,967 level before midday, the Footsie steadily declined to close at 5,935. Me
Read moreSector movers: Astra, GSK fall on UBS comments
22nd Jul 2011 14:57
UBS dampened the mood in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, meaning that the sector fell to the bottom of the pile on Friday. UBS Investment Research cut its rating on the European pharmaceutical sector to "neutral" from "small overweight," saying the defensive sector that benefited from the econom
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials mixed as investor lock in profits
22nd Jul 2011 14:18
The financial sector was mixed on Friday, despite rising strongly early on following yesterday's Eurozone deal to bailout Greece. Shares soared on Thursday after the region's leaders agreed a new aid package for Greece and an overhaul of the Eurozone sovereign rescue fund. While RBS bucked the tre
Read moreBroker snap: UBS downgrades European pharma to neutral
22nd Jul 2011 13:01
UBS Investment Research cut its rating on the European pharmaceutical sector to "neutral" from "small overweight," saying the defensive sector that benefited from the economic soft patch and the sovereign debt crisis, will be hit by the turnaround in these lead indicators. UBS strategist Nick Nels
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Capita, AstraZeneca, Colt
22nd Jul 2011 06:52
The market has well and truly fallen out of love with the support services sector, and with the sector leader Capita Group. Some acceptable interim figures from the company were greeted with a sharp price fall yesterday. The rate of dividend growth is a little lower than it has been historically bec
Read moreBroker snap: Heart drug approval to comfort Astra, Citi says
21st Jul 2011 16:37
Citi maintained its buy recommendation on drugmaker AstraZeneca and said that regulatory approval for its heart drug in the US will provide "some comfort on the longer-term outlook for the business, especially beyond 2014," given the disappointment over the future of its diabetes drug. On Wednesday
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials soar on Eurozone hopes
21st Jul 2011 15:02
Financials were leading the recovery on Thursday afternoon following a fall earlier in the day, on hopes of a solution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. European leaders agreed a new aid package for Greece and an overhaul of the Eurozone sovereign rescue fund. Among the proposals are a reduct
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks give up gains ahead of summit
21st Jul 2011 12:03
This morning's bright start seems a distance memory, with stocks are deep in the red ahead of the EU summit on the sovereign debt crisis. Latest reports say Germany and France intend to let Greece default temporarily as part of a programme of buying back bonds. They have also ruled out bank levies.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks give up gains
21st Jul 2011 08:39
Stocks are moving in both directions today, but bears have the edge now with the top share index a few points lower, giving up earlier gains. In the FTSE 100, Kingfisher, the FTSE 100 DIY retailer, is flying high even after it saw sales down 0.5% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same p
Read moreLondon pre-open: Steady start in store
21st Jul 2011 07:42
The top-share index is expected to nudge up a couple of points or so at the outset after yesterday's mixed performance on Wall Street. With a busy day in store for company announcements, however, there are likely to be lots of special situations for investors to mull over. Half-year turnover and p
Read moreAstraZeneca heartened by US Brilinta approval
21st Jul 2011 07:07
AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals company, has won approval for its drug Brilinta in the United States. Brilinta reduces the rate of heart attack and cardiovascular death in adult patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) more effectively than its rival treatment Clopidogre, recent s
Read moreLondon close: Debt hopes boost markets
20th Jul 2011 16:39
Shares moved higher on both sides of the Atlantic amid hopes that European and US leaders are making progress towards agreeing solutions to debt problems. It was US corporate news that boosted today's star sector in London though. Chip companies ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies sizzled aft
Read moreThursday preview: Kingfisher, Capita, Astra, retail sales
20th Jul 2011 15:18
Do-it-yourself retailer Kingfisher has become something of a two-speed company, with the UK operations holding back the French business; Thursday's trading update may reveal whether that is still the case. "We expect UK LFL [like-for-like] sales at B&Q to be down strongly in the second quarter, gi
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