Sector movers: Apple's figures boost chip firms
20th Jul 2011 14:24
Stellar results from US tech giant Apple boosted the technology hardware and equipment sector on Wednesday. UK-listed chip companies ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies were sizzling after Apple, which uses their technology in its gadgets, posted another record-breaking quarter, with revenue
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads banks higher
20th Jul 2011 14:05
The banks were leading the Footsie higher on Wednesday afternoon, with Barclays, RBS and Lloyds recouping some of the week's earlier losses. Barclays was the highest riser, gaining 4.54%, but still remains around 3% down over the last seven days. ARM Holdings was in demand with the chip company bo
Read moreCiti positive on AstraZeneca's heart drug approval
20th Jul 2011 13:29
Citi said AstraZeneca's blockbuster heart drug brilinta has a 60% to 70% chance of approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but is contingent on post-marketing studies with a sufficient number of US patients to confirm the benefit with low-dose of aspirin. Citi analyst Mark Dainty expects
Read moreLondon midday: Chip stocks sizzle as Apple impresses
20th Jul 2011 12:16
Shares are posting strong gains today as the spotlight moves from Europe's debt woes to the US, where traders are optimistic lawmakers will reach agreement on cutting the world's biggest economy's deficit. Chip companies ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies in particular are taking their lead
Read moreLondon open: Miners jump higher in early trading
20th Jul 2011 08:42
After a strong finish on Wall Street last night - with the Dow Jones having its best day of the year so far - the Footsie opened up nearly 0.5% higher. Mining giant BHP Billiton was a high riser after it was able to achieve another iron ore output record in the year ended 30 June, its eleventh cons
Read moreLondon pre-open: Wall Street tail-winds boost London
20th Jul 2011 07:37
After the Dow Jones had its best day of the year overnight investors are keen to get their wallets out this morning and dive into equities. City traders think the blue-chip index will open around 30 points higher and crash back through the 5,800 barrier. One stock unlikely to be joining the upsurg
Read moreFDA committee rejects dapagliflozin
20th Jul 2011 07:03
Drugs giants AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb received a blow when the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Advisory Committee rejected their jointly-developed diabetes drug, dapagliflozin, though the vote was a close one. The committee voted 6 "yes" and 9 "no" on the question of whether "do
Read moreLondon close: Stocks near 6,000 as rally continues
1st Jul 2011 16:27
London's leading share index made a valiant incursion towards the 6,000 point mark heading into the weekend, but fell just short. The gains capped a good week for the FTSE 100 following the Greek parliament's vote in favour of austerity measures that could mend its wrecked finances. Today's stando
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 inching towards 6,000 points
1st Jul 2011 12:21
The 6,000 point mark is in sight now as the top share index adds to yesterday's gains. That said, there is little in the way of excitement with yesterday's flood of company results slowing to a trickle. Pub group Greene King, which yesterday reported a big rise in profits but also reported volati
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher, Premier Foods slide continues
1st Jul 2011 08:32
Stocks have edged higher on a quiet day on the company news front following yesterday's deluge. Pub group Greene King, which yesterday reported a big rise in profits but also reported volatile trading since the year end, sending the shares lower, has won back some losses. However, Hovis bread maker
Read moreAstraZeneca wins Japanese approval
1st Jul 2011 07:31
AstraZeneca, the FTSE-100 pharmaceuticals firm, has won approval to sell its drug Nexium in Japan. The drug helps in the treatment of acid related conditions, including peptic ulcer disease. Daiichi Sankyo will be responsible for its distribution and its approval follows 8 "in-country" clinical s
Read moreLondon pre-open: Flat start in store
1st Jul 2011 07:03
London looks set for a quiet end to what has been a buoyant week with City traders expecting the Footsie to open more or less unchanged. There is not much corporate news to generate enthusiasm, and with the Greek can of worms kicked further down the road, the macro-economic scene is looking placid
Read moreLondon close: Utilities provide late boost
27th Jun 2011 16:39
The Footsie closed near its daily highs after a strong start on Wall Street. Utilities stock lead the rise, while financials were lower. Utilities stocks finished higher, with United Utilities Group and Severn Trent making gains of nearly 3.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Financials were among the wors
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Man Group leads financials lower
27th Jun 2011 14:35
Financials are among the worst performers of the day, helping to drag the FTSE 100 below the 5,700 level. Hedge fund manager Man Group is the heaviest fallers, losing nearly 4% as of 14:40 on Monday afternoon.RBS and Barclays are trading 1.7% and 1.2% lower, respectively. The mining sector has bee
Read moreAstra and Bristol-Myers hail diabetes test results
27th Jun 2011 06:40
Drugs giants AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced over the week-end that an extension to the phase 3 trial of their jointly developed dapagliflozin drug indicated that the drug, when added to metformin, provides a new therapeutic option for treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients who have
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