Thursday preview: Astra, BSkyB, Britvic
26th Jan 2011 15:55
Drugs giant AstraZeneca reports fourth quarter and full year results on Thursday. Consensus forecasts are for full year pre-tax profits of £7.48bn on sales of £20.96bn. "In the face of a looming off-patent cliff attention is likely to focus, initially at least, on confirmation of an enhanced share
Read moreSector movers: Pharmaceuticals up, banks down
24th Jan 2011 14:27
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology is the best performing sector today. Source Bioscience put in a solid trading performance during November and December 2010 and full year 2010 results should be in line with market expectations. "Both our LifeSciences and PharmaBiotech divisions demonstrated double
Read moreLondon close: Shares end week on a high
21st Jan 2011 16:59
London's leading share index went into the weekend on a high after falls the previous two days. Royal Bank of Scotland led the top share index higher after the FT reported that bank executives and officials at the Treasury are talking about ways for the bank to exit the toxic asset scheme. After
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners lead revival
21st Jan 2011 14:35
After yesterday's triple-digit fall the Footsie has clawed back around half of those losses, helped by a strong performance from miners. Weather conditions in Australia have improved enough to allow Rio Tinto to end the force majeure event that's disrupted supplies of aluminium from Boyne Smelters
Read moreLondon midday: RBS leads the way
21st Jan 2011 12:08
Royal Bank of Scotland is leading the top share index higher after the FT reported that bank executives and officials at the Treasury are talking about ways for the bank to exit the toxic asset scheme. Fellow bank Lloyds is also going well. Weather conditions in Australia have improved enough to
Read moreWeek Ahead: Astra, Sage, Britvic, US rate decision
21st Jan 2011 09:15
The spate of trading updates from retailers has almost dried up, leaving the field open to heavyweights from other sectors. Two of the big names from the utilities sector, United Utilities and Severn Trent, are due to report while from the oil sector Tullow and Cairn report late in the week. Accoun
Read moreLondon open: Footsie recoups losses
21st Jan 2011 08:53
London's leading shares have claw backed a small proportion of yesterday's heavy losses, encouraged by the late rally on Wall Street yesterday. Royal Bank of Scotland is leading the way forward after the FT reported that bank executives and officials at the Treasury are talking about ways for the
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set to bounce back
21st Jan 2011 07:35
London's leading shares look set to claw back a small proportion of yesterday's heavy losses, encouraged by the late rally by Wall Street yesterday. City traders expect the Footsie will open around 17 points up from last night's close. Weather conditions in Australia have improved enough to allow
Read moreAstra responds to FDA's BRILINTA concerns
21st Jan 2011 07:16
AstraZeneca has thrown the ball back in to the US Food and Drug Administration's court regarding the drugs giant's new drug application (NDA) for its blood thinning drug, BRILINTA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Astra with a complete response letter (CRL) in December requesting addit
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 hits 6,000
23rd Dec 2010 16:37
It was a quiet the markets on the last full day of trading before Christmas, but the top share index's attempt to inch past the 6,000 point mark proved an exciting spectacle. A final push ensured that symbolically important feat was achieved, but FTSE 100 closed just below that level, last seen in
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks come off the top
23rd Dec 2010 14:24
Footsie's assault on 6,000 has run out of steam and the blue-chip index is now barely holding on to gains. Mortgage lending fell to a 20-month low in November new figures from the British Bankers' Association (BBA) show, underlining the weakness the housing market is currently experiencing. Oil pr
Read moreLondon midday: Stubborn FTSE 100 stays below 6,000
23rd Dec 2010 12:08
Domestic economic data has failed to jolt the top share index into life, but a raft of data from the US could trigger a move above 6,000 points later this afternoon. Mortgage lending fell to a 20-month low in November new figures from the British Bankers' Association (BBA) show, underlining the wea
Read moreLondon open: Assault on 6,000 begins
23rd Dec 2010 08:15
Blue chips have had a first stab at hitting the magic 6,000 level following gains in the US overnight and are regrouping after falling just one point short. Insurer Old Mutual is among the early winners, followed by Sainsbury's and Kingfisher, but ARM is giving back a little of yesterday's big gain
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie closing in on 6,000
23rd Dec 2010 07:44
It's looking touch and go whether the Footsie index will open above 6,000 this morning with City traders suggesting the blue-chip index will open around 16 points higher, just 1 point short of the 6,000 level. Rio Tinto has increased its offer for Riversdale Mining to A$16 a share in cash, securing
Read moreAstra and Abbott abandon Certriad development
23rd Dec 2010 07:17
Pharmaceuticals giants AstraZeneca and Abbott have dissolved their collaboration agreement covering the development of Certriad capsules. Certriad is an investigational compound that was being jointly developed for the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia. The co-development and licence agreement with
Read more