London midday: Miners give markets a boost despite Ukraine worries
12th May 2014 11:37
- JPMorgan, China hopes lift mining stocks - Ukraine in focus after referendums - BSkyB falls amid Fox pay-TV deal speculation techMARK 2,793.49 +0.40% FTSE 100 6,844.10 +0.43% FTSE 250 15,961.01 +0.48% Upbeat comments from JPMorgan Chase & Co and a good performance on Chinese markets overnight ga
Read moreLondon open: Miners lead stocks higher on Chinese stimulus hopes
12th May 2014 08:29
- Chinese stimulus hopes increase after Xi comments - Ukraine in focus after regional referenda - BSkyB in talks with Fox over German, Italian assets techMARK 2,785.14 +0.10% FTSE 100 6,828.98 +0.21% FTSE 250 15,940.81 +0.35% UK stocks edged higher on Monday morning despite heightened tensions in
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to rise, traders eye stimulus in China
12th May 2014 07:40
The week is set to get off to a positive start for UK stocks, following a mixed picture in Asia overnight and a decent finish in the US on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrials managed to set a fresh record high, although the 16,000 point area continues to act as resistance for now. City sources are p
Read moreAstraZeneca announces positive results from brodalumab study
12th May 2014 07:12
AstraZeneca said the Phase III Amagine-1 study evaluating brodalumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis met all primary and secondary endpoints. Results showed that 83.3% of patients in the 210 mg group and 60.3 patients in the 140 mg group achieved at least a 75% improvement from
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, BSkyB, interest rates
11th May 2014 11:23
Pfizer has been advised by a top US law firm that its assurances over the proposed £63bn takeover of AstraZeneca are legally binding, the Sunday Times reported. Chief Executive Ian Read hopes the opinion from Skadden Arps will help cool the political argument over his intended deal. He will be quest
Read moreLondon close: Traders book profits ahead of key risk events
9th May 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 24.68 points at 6,814.57 - Permanent salaries grow at quickest since 2007 - Petrofac slumps - NIESR ups UK growth forecasts techMARK 2,782.32 -0.89% FTSE 100 6,814.57 -0.36% FTSE 250 15,885.21 -0.52% UK stocks ended the final session of the week in the red, weighed by Petrofac a
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Russia, Britain, AstraZeneca
9th May 2014 07:29
The European Central Bank says capital flight from Russia since the Ukraine crisis erupted may be four times higher than admitted by the Kremlin, a clear sign that sanctions pressure is inflicting serious damage on the Russian economy. Mario Draghi, the ECB's president, said the outflows from Russia
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, AstraZeneca, Rolls-Royce...
7th May 2014 13:34
HSBC shares will continue to underperform the wider banking sector following the company's 'mixed' first-quarter results, according to wealth manager Brewin Dolphin. Overall, we would argue that this is a mixed set of results: costs, impairments and capital were all either better or in line with ex
Read morePfizer steps up pressure on AstraZeneca
7th May 2014 12:00
Drug group Pfizer has stepped up the pressure on rival AstraZeneca to accept its 63bn pounds bid for the UK pharmaceutical company. Pfizer issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning emphasising the benefits of a potential tie-up between the pair. AstraZeneca has so far re
Read morePanmure expects another bid for AstraZeneca in coming weeks
7th May 2014 10:32
AstraZeneca (AZN) shareholders should expect a further bid from Pfizer to materialise in the coming weeks, according to Panmure Gordon which kept a 'buy' rating on the stock. AZN on Tuesday set out its defence against a takeover, saying its strong growth prospects and developing drug pipeline warra
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Britain, Carphone Warehouse
7th May 2014 06:52
Vince Cable said he would not "rule out intervention" in Pfizer's 63bn pound bid for Astra Zeneca as he warned that the "future of the UK is a knowledge economy not a tax haven". The Business Secretary told the House of Commons that just as both AstraZeneca and Pfizer were "motivated by hard-headed
Read moreLondon close: Negative finish, weighed by Ukraine, Barclays, AstraZeneca
6th May 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 23.86 points at 6,798.56 - Barclays slumps after poor Q1 - OECD predicts 3.2 per cent growth in 2014 techMARK 2,792.09 -0.09% FTSE 100 6,798.56 -0.35% FTSE 250 15,938.69 +0.05% UK stocks ended the day in the red, dragged by developments in Ukraine and a poor performance by Barc
Read moreSector movers: Barclays and Astra drag banks and pharma stocks lower
6th May 2014 15:14
Banking and pharmaceuticals, two sectors which have performed well over recent weeks, were trading firmly lower on Tuesday with heavyweights Barclays and AstraZeneca providing a drag. Shares in Barclays were as much as 5% lower this afternoon after a much worse-than-expected drop in investment bank
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Persimmon leads housebuilders higher
6th May 2014 14:54
Persimmon led the UK housebuilders higher today, lifted by Barclays which increased its target price on the stock from 1,333.6p to 1,530p. In a report, Barclays said: "Against an improving backdrop, the recent sell-off of house builders warrants close attention. We see strong fundamentals: greater
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks pull back from two-month high
6th May 2014 11:54
- Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca, Balfour Beatty fall - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - FTSE 100 pulls back from two-month high - UK services PMI beats forecasts techMARK 2,798.81 +0.15% FTSE 100 6,811.35 -0.16% FTSE 250 15,928.23 -0.02% Falls from Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca and Balfour
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