London midday: Markets rise with central banks in focus
1st Aug 2013 11:43
Stocks were making decent gains on Thursday morning, helped by some dovish remarks from the Federal Reserve and some stronger-than-expected data from China, with Lloyds leading the FTSE 100 higher after its first-half results. It's been a busy week on the macro-economic calendar with policy decisio
Read moreLondon open: Lloyds leads FTSE 100 higher early on
1st Aug 2013 08:56
Upbeat Chinese data and some impressive first-half results from Lloyds helped boost markets on Thursday morning, though the focus is likely to turn to central-bank decisions in the UK and Europe later on. "With the Bank of England and European Central Bank likely to announce uneventful policy decis
Read moreAstraZeneca Q2 sales falls slow, costs begin to increase
1st Aug 2013 07:46
Pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca saw sales fall in the second quarter as more drugs fell off the 'patent cliff', but the level of declines lessened. First half revenues fell 8.0% at constant exchange rates to $12.6bn, as declines of 4.0% in the three months to end June improved on the 12% slippa
Read moreLondon pre-open: Chinese data to provide a lift early on
1st Aug 2013 07:44
Markets are expected to open higher on Thursday morning ahead of central-bank policy decisions from the UK and Europe this afternoon, with sentiment helped early on by some upbeat data from China. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 20 points from yesterday's close of 6,621. Growth in
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: RBS, AstraZeneca
24th Jul 2013 06:49
Royal Bank of Scotland is expected to announce a new Chief Executive to replace outgoing boss Stephen Hester, as early as next week, The Telegraph revealed. Two more AstraZeneca sales executives have been arrested by Chinese police in relation to nation-wide investigation into the drugmaking indus
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: McDonald's, GSK, BCC
23rd Jul 2013 06:50
McDonald's sales surged during the second quarter as high demand in Briton offset negative results in Germany and France, The Times reported. GlaxoSmithKline's President of International Operations, Abbas Hussain, has admitted wrongdoing by staff as China investigates the company over claims it wa
Read moreLondon close: Markets finish lower, earnings in focus this week
22nd Jul 2013 16:38
The FTSE 100 finished slightly lower on Monday as upcoming corporate earnings came into focus on a quiet day for economic data worldwide. Michael Hewson, Senior Market Analyst at CMC Markets, said: "With markets trading at multi-week highs investors appear to be adopting a 'wait and see' approach a
Read moreLondon pre-open: Losses expected as markets look ahead to G20
19th Jul 2013 07:29
Markets are expected to open slightly lower on Friday morning with the FTSE 100 pulling back after a seven-week high ahead of the meeting of G20 leaders. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 18 points from yesterday's close of 6,634. The last time the index finished higher was on May 3
Read moreAstraZeneca completes Omthera purchase
19th Jul 2013 07:23
AstraZeneca has strengthened its late-stage cardiovascular disease pipeline after completing the acquisition of New Jersey-based specialty pharmaceutical company Omthera Pharmaceuticals. The purchased company is focused on the development and commercialisation of new therapies for abnormal levels
Read moreLondon midday: Banks, miners provide a lift after China data
15th Jul 2013 11:42
Cyclical stocks welcomed in-line gross domestic product (GDP) figures from China on Monday morning with the FTSE 100 nearly hitting seven-week highs early on. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level; the last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. Gains
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 near seven-week high after China data
15th Jul 2013 08:24
Worries about a sharp slowdown in China temporarily eased on Monday morning, pushing the FTSE 100 to levels not seen in nearly seven weeks. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level early on. The last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. "European marke
Read moreLondon pre-open: Gains expected after in-line Chinese data
15th Jul 2013 07:29
A broadly in-line set of economic figures from China provided stock markets in Asia with a small boost on Monday, with London's FTSE 100 expected to follow suit early on. As expected, the annual rate of Chinese economic growth slowed down in the second quarter, from 7.7% to 7.5%. This will come as
Read moreAstraZeneca CFO leaves to join BG Group
15th Jul 2013 07:03
AstraZeneca's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Simon Lowth is stepping down to join oil and gas firm BG Group. He will leave the pharmaceutical giant in October, after reporting third quarter results, and will start as BG Group's new CFO the following month. AstraZeneca has started to search for a r
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
12th Jul 2013 08:11
Ashmore Group: Morgan Stanley cuts target price from 444p to 420p and leaves its equal-weight rating unchanged. JP Morgan ups target price from 339p to 377p maintaining a neutral rating. AstraZeneca: Jefferies reduces target price from 3560p to 3400p, while keeping its hold recommendation. Aviva:
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE 100 expected to consolidate recent gains
28th Jun 2013 07:32
The FTSE 100 is expected to open flat to slightly higher on Friday morning as markets head into the final trading day of the second quarter. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up around six points from yesterday's close of 6,243. The index has delivered solid gains over the past three con
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