London afternoon: Gains pared
7th Feb 2011 14:19
Leading shares saw gains trimmed over the lunch time session but the Footsie remains comfortably in positive territory, due in no small part to the strength of mining stocks, Gold miner Randgold Resources is wanted after it shrugged off operational and political setbacks in 2010 to post a sharp in
Read moreLondon midday: Miners push FTSE 100 past 6,000
7th Feb 2011 12:04
Strength in the miner sector has helped lift the FTSE 100 well above 6,000 points. Gold miner Randgold Resources as among the best performers after it shrugged off operational and political setbacks in 2010 to post a sharp increase in profit, helped by the increase in the price of gold. Profit befo
Read moreLondon open: Footsie through 6,000 again
7th Feb 2011 08:53
After an uncertain start, Footsie has now pushed on through the 6,000 barrier as miners rally from some early profit taking. Gold miner Randgold Resources shrugged off operational and political setbacks in 2010 to post a sharp increase in profit, helped by the increase in the price of gold. Profi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Renewed assault on 6,000
7th Feb 2011 07:38
Footsie looks set to have another crack at breaking through the 6,000 barrier with City traders predicting the blue-chip index will open around 12 points firmer at 6,009. AstraZeneca's run of disappointing drug development results has continued with the early end to a trial of prostate cancer treat
Read moreAnother failure for AstraZeneca
7th Feb 2011 07:05
AstraZeneca's run of disappointing drug development results has continued with the early end to a trial of prostate cancer treatment zibotentan. The advanced trial on the drug's impact on men with non-metastatic, castrate resistant prostate cancer has been scrapped after the early results showed it
Read moreLondon close: No US jobs lift for FTSE 100
4th Feb 2011 16:40
The top share index finished the week just below 6,000 points after a sluggish day's trading. Traders were unsure how to react to US jobs data. Nonfarm payrolls rose just 36,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday, well below forecasts of at least 140,000. On the bright side, December's nu
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie recovers from US jobs jolt
4th Feb 2011 14:40
The Footsie kept its head above 6,000 over the lunchtime period despite a negative reaction to US jobless figures at 1:30. Nonfarm payrolls rose just 36,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday, well below forecasts of at least 140,000. On the bright side, December's number was revised up t
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Utilities strengthen
4th Feb 2011 13:35
Utilities dominate the risers in the Footsie. Severn Trent, United Utilities and the newly enlarged International Power head the risers. BT Group continues to strengthen after yesterday's third quarter figures. International Consolidated Airlines continues to fall. The share price has fallen b
Read moreLondon 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
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