London midday: FTSE 100 in the blue
4th Feb 2011 12:23
The FTSE 100 is still hovering a few points in positive territory on a fairly quiet day on the company news front. Utilities are one bright spot, with United Utilities, Severn Trent and International Power all higher. Wm Morrison has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'neutral' by UBS, which suggests th
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start for blue chips
4th Feb 2011 08:47
Footsie is subdued with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and January non-farm payrolls data from the US due out this afternoon. Utilities are one bright spot, with United Utilities, Severn Trent and International Power all higher. Wm Morrison has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'neutral
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to have another crack at 6,000
4th Feb 2011 07:31
The Footsie looks set to make another assault on the 6,000 barrier, with City traders predicting the blue-chip index will open on or around 6,000, having closed at 5,983 last night. Trade might be subdued, however, with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and with investors waiting on the
Read moreFDA accepts Astra's Brilinta resubmission
4th Feb 2011 07:03
July 20 is the new red letter day for AstraZeneca's quest to get its blood thinning drug Brilinta (ticagrelor) accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA had raised concerns last year about Astra's first submission on the grounds of disparities in test results on US patients co
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners move ahead
2nd Feb 2011 13:00
Miners are propelling the market higher with nine out of the top ten performers in the Footsie from that sector. Eurasian National Resources says production was in line with expectations in the fourth quarter of 2010, although the ferroalloys division produced slightly more than expected. However
Read moreTechMARK movers: Puricore bounces off bottom
2nd Feb 2011 12:58
Puricore has bounced back after the share price hit its lowest level for two years. The endoscope cleaning and food safety business has yet to publish a trading statement for 2010. Last year, it published a 2009 trading statement on the 20 January. The third quarter interim management statement wa
Read moreFriday tips round-up: AstraZeneca, Mitchells & Butlers, Aquarius Platinum...
28th Jan 2011 06:58
AstraZeneca and the rest of the large pharmas share the same basic problem, that of old drugs coming off patent faster than they can be replaced. The response has generally been to shovel piles of cash towards investors to keep them happy while trying to work out what to do next. AstraZeneca upped
Read moreLondon close: Footsie fades late
27th Jan 2011 16:32
Footsie closed lower after an afternoon rally, following a downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors, fizzled out. Life insurers moved to the top of the pile led by Old Mutual, Prudential and Aviva. Mining stocks did well after the US Federal Reserve indicated yesterd
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks edge higher
27th Jan 2011 14:23
Footsie remains marginally in positive territory after trading sideways over the lunchtime session, with the downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors continuing to weigh on sentiment. Mining stocks are going well, however, after the US Federal Reserve indicated yeste
Read moreBroker tips: Astra, ITE, Blacks Leisure
27th Jan 2011 13:02
Results from drugs giant AstraZeneca were in line with expectations but 2011 guidance was less severe than Charles Stanley had been expecting. "We note that guidance for a flat to low single-digit decline in the top line (using constant exchange rates) is broadly in line with existing consensus. Th
Read moreBroker snap: Future brighter than feared at Astra
27th Jan 2011 13:01
Results from drugs giant AstraZeneca were in line with expectations but 2011 guidance was less severe than Charles Stanley had been expecting. "We note that guidance for a flat to low single-digit decline in the top line (using constant exchange rates) is broadly in line with existing consensus. Th
Read moreLondon midday: Shares still seeking direction
27th Jan 2011 12:07
Shares remain uncertain following a raft of company statements this morning. Updates have been broadly well received, but ratings agency Standard & Poors' downgrade of Japan's credit rating weighing on sentiment. S&P now rates the far eastern nation at AA-, citing worries over its large debt burden
Read moreLondon open: Flat start despite strong updates
27th Jan 2011 08:38
Company updates have been given a good reception but the top share index is pausing for breath after good gains recently. BSkyB has demonstrated why newspaper group NewsCorp is so keen to take over the satellite broadcaster, with a strong rise in profits in the six months to 31 December. Pre-tax pr
Read moreLondon pre-open: Astra defies expectations
27th Jan 2011 07:41
London is set to open modestly higher despite yesterday's late swoon in the US. After the US market closed yesterday the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee retained its cautious stance on the US economic recovery. Interest rates were unchanged near historic lows, with the additional $600bn bond
Read moreAstra tops expectations
27th Jan 2011 07:04
Anglo-Swedish drugs firm AstraZeneca felt the pain of competition in the US from generic versions of its drugs last year, but this was offset by strong growth in other markets. Revenue for the full year was unchanged on a constant exchange rates (CER) basis at $33,629m, a shade above the $33.5bn pr
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