London midday: Footsie slides below 5700
27th Apr 2010 12:04
Footsie has given up all of yesterday's gains and more and has dipped below the 5700 level. Barely a dozen of the blue-chip index's constituents are in the blue, with miners featuring prominently among the laggards. Vedanta, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are the worst performers in the mining s
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull Footsie down
27th Apr 2010 08:39
London's top stocks have opened lower on a weak start for the mining sector and despite some encouraging numbers from three index heavyweights. Miners are the problem, with falls across the sector led by Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Xstrata. Prudential is a strong performer on a report in the Times tha
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small drop ahead
27th Apr 2010 07:37
London's top stocks are expected to open around 15 points lower as investors consider a bunch of corporate results. Lloyds Banking returned to profitability in the first quarter and said it expects this momentum to be sustained throughout the rest of the year. The lender, 41% owned by the taxpayer,
Read moreAstraZeneca gets EU nod for Crestor
27th Apr 2010 07:28
Drugs giant AstraZeneca has received more good news on its cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor after the European Union cleared its use in nineteen European countries for patients at risk of a first heart attack. The clearance follows a significant reduction in the combined endpoint of heart attacks,
Read moreWeek Ahead: BP, Shell, Glaxo
23rd Apr 2010 11:46
After a lull lasting a couple of weeks next week sees a heavily populated agenda of company results, with energy and pharmaceuticals companies dominating. Among the oil companies due to announce next week BP is first out of the traps on Tuesday with first quarter figures. Net income is forecast to
Read moreSector movers: Elektron power electronics gains
6th Apr 2010 14:32
Elektron is among the stocks boosting the electronic and electrical equipment sector. The components group today announced Keith Daley has been appointed executive chairman. Daley has been non-executive chairman and temporary chief executive officer since the resignation of the previous CEO in 200
Read moreSector movers: Songbird weighs on real estate
26th Mar 2010 14:00
The real estate sector is higher despite weakness in the share price of Songbird Estates. Docklands office complex Canary Wharf's value increased in the second half of 2009, owner Songbird Estates said today, as it recovered from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a key tenant. Songbird, which had t
Read moreSector movers: Commodity stocks slip back
22nd Mar 2010 14:50
Oil and gas stocks and industrial metals and miners are lower as commodity prices slip. The oil price fell for a third day in a row after India unexpectedly raised interest rates by a quarter of one percentage point to 3.5%, stoking fears that the global recovery will falter. Copper prices were lo
Read moreLondon close: Miners pull index lower
11th Mar 2010 17:02
London bounced off 5,600 despite a weak start on Wall Street but still closed in the red on a poor day for miners. Falling commodity prices and China inflation concerns prompted profit taking in Fresnillo, Randgold, Rio Tinto, ENRC, Kazakhmys, BHP Billiton and Xstrata. Speculation rose that Chin
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie holds above 5,600
11th Mar 2010 14:32
A steady decline continued through lunch, but London bounced off 5,600 despite a weak start on Wall Street as mining sector losses narrowed very slightly. Falling commodity prices have damaged miners Thursday. Investors decided to take profits in Fresnillo, Randgold, Rio Tinto, ENRC, Kazakhmys, BHP
Read moreLondon midday: Thos. Cook a ray of sunshine
11th Mar 2010 12:08
The Footsie has drifted into the red, weighed down by the weakness of mining stocks. Among the miners Fresnillo, Randgold Resources, Rio Tinto, ENRC, Kazakhmys, BHP Billiton and Xstrata are all on offer, as metals prices retreat. Smith & Nephew is under the weather after coming out on the wrong
Read moreLondon open: Miners lead decline
11th Mar 2010 08:17
London's main index is being dragged lower by mining stocks, though Old Mutual is the weakest link among the blue chips after it published full-year results this morning. South African insurer Old Mutual has resumed dividend payments following a better second half and is exploring the sale of US Li
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early retreat expected
11th Mar 2010 07:40
It looks like being a gloomy start to trade in London after last night's flat finish on Wall Street, wit stocks pulling back from yesterday's new 18-month high. Futures prices indicate an early 17-point drop for the FTSE 100. In company news, oil giant BP has beefed up its exploration operations w
Read moreAstraZeneca in generics deal with Torrent
11th Mar 2010 07:16
Drug giant AstraZeneca today announced a license and supply agreement with Indian peer Torrent Pharmaceuticals. Under the deal, Torrent will supply a portfolio of generic medicines for which it already has licenses in a range of countries. Astra said it intends to brand and market these products
Read moreLondon close: Shares end with small gains
8th Mar 2010 17:14
London's top stocks ended the day with small gains after trading in a very tight range all day as shares paused for breath following last week's good gains. Oil fabrications giant Petrofac was one of the day's major bright spot after it made a bit more than expected last year, with after tax profit
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