London 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
Read moreThursday 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 more