London close: Stocks slide after US jobs disappointment
25th Aug 2011 16:39
After an uncertain start following a raft of mixed company updates, London's leading share index finished firmly in the red as some weak US jobs data set nerves on edge. Unemployment claims in the world's biggest economy unexpectedly rose by 5,000 to 417,000 in the week to 20 August. Traders are n
Read moreLondon midday: Mixed reception for deluge of updates
25th Aug 2011 12:10
London's leading share index is uncertain today as the continuing stream of company updates gets a mixed reception. Kazakhstan-focused copper miner Kazakhmys is in demand after it said underlying profits were 24% ahead in the first half and revealed details of a $250m buy-back programme. The group
Read moreLondon open: Company results drive FTSE 100 up 0.7%
25th Aug 2011 08:32
Some pleasing company results drove the Footsie higher in early trading while the banks were also providing a lift. Kazakhstan-focused copper miner Kazakhmys was a high riser after it said underlying profits were 24% ahead in the first half and revealed details of a $250m buy-back programme. The gr
Read moreBroker snap: UBS upgrades BAE to buy
10th Aug 2011 12:09
UBS has upgraded defence firm BAE Systems from neutral to buy following the group's interim results on 28 July. "Upgrading to a buy [...] as we believe downside risk is minimised by reaching trough profit valuations, the high dividend yield, share buy-back and [price-to-earnings ratio] yield," said
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Reed Elsevier, Glencore, BAE
29th Jul 2011 06:34
Publishing and exhibitions business, Reed Elsevier's full-year results in February were pretty flat, indicating that further recovery would be gradual. First-half figures confirm this. The shares sell on an unexciting 12 times this year's earnings ? although as one analyst pointed out, their defensi
Read moreBAE Systems hikes interim dividend
28th Jul 2011 09:14
BAE Systems reported lower earnings growth in the first half of 2011 hurt by charges and foreign currency headwinds, but shares of the defence group jumped nearly 5% after the firm boosted its interim dividend and announced a £500m share repurchase program. For the six months ended 30 June, the co
Read moreMinistry of Defence's radios worth £184m off the air
5th Jul 2011 13:51
The Ministry of Defence's (MoD) failure to account for the existence and condition of assets worth £6.3bn, including the location of radios worth £184m, has highlighted the governmental department's inability to manage resources, the Defence Select Committee said in its report. The committee said
Read moreMedusa bosses buy on weakness
23rd Jun 2011 16:05
Directors at Philippines-focused gold producer Medusa Mining have upped their stakes amid a weak spell for the company's shares. Managing director Peter Hepburn-Brown took 15,00 shares at A$6.85 (449p) a time, paying a total of just over £67,000. He previously had no shares in the company. Non-ex
Read moreLondon close: Greek talks bolster late recovery
17th Jun 2011 16:33
As European leaders seemed to come closer to a solution to the Greek crisis, sentiment was lifted across the continent with markets finishing higher across the board. Despite a poor start, London equities got a boost in the late morning period, helping the Footsie back above the 5,700 mark. A strong
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners recover to lift the Footsie higher
17th Jun 2011 13:30
The miners are leading the comeback as metals prices recover slightly. Lonmin, Anglo American, Xstrata and Kazakhmys are among the best performers on the blue chip index, despite falling early on. Following the acquisition of an additional stake in Africa-focused coal miner Riversdale Mining, Rio
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Essar tops the risers after 'solid' quarter
17th May 2011 15:35
India-focused energy firm Essar Energy is the best performer after it reported a "solid operating performance" in the first quarter with total generation 10% higher than the same period the year before. Mobile telecommunications giant Vodafone is one of the high risers after strong growth in emerg
Read moreUS fines BAE $79m
17th May 2011 07:57
Defence group BAE has been hit with more fines by the US for breaking the rules on exports of military products. It will pay an additional fine of up to $79m (£48m), on top of £450m it said it would have to pay in the UK and US last year after investigations into its dealings in various foreign cou
Read moreBAE battles with lower activity
4th May 2011 09:28
Defence giant BAE Systems has said that trading in 2011 so far has been "consistent with management expectations", but it does expect sales to be lower than 2010. "The group continues to anticipate a reduction in sales in 2011 as the volume adjustment in Land & Armaments [its armoured vehicles and
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Mervyn King, Tesco, BAE
3rd May 2011 06:11
High debt levels pose "massive" economic challenges that would be exacerbated by higher interest rates, the Governor of the Bank of England said. Speaking yesterday at the European Parliament in Brussels, Mervyn King warned that a rise in long-term interest rates would have "severe" consequences, sa
Read moreNetcall non-exec sells up
29th Mar 2011 16:36
Mark Brooks, who was appointed to the Netcall board following the acquisition of Telephonetics, has sold all his shares in the AIM-quoted telecoms call-back and speech recognition software provider. Brooks had been a director of Telephonetics since March 2008 and joined the Netcall board in July 20
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