Monday newspaper round-up: Tesco, BAE Systems, Budget...
7th Mar 2011 06:47
Britain's leading supermarkets have been accused of misleading planning authorities by claiming to create tens of thousands of jobs when actually they employ fewer workers than they did two years ago. Tesco and J Sainsbury have made extravagant claims about the number of jobs they create in order t
Read moreLondon close: Rally falls short as Libya casts shadow
22nd Feb 2011 17:00
Strong consumer confidence figures in the US sparked an impressive rally from the top share index this afternoon following earlier gloom over the Libyan turmoil and the higher oil price, but worries re-emerged and the FTSE 100 finished below 6,000. BHP Billiton is one of those that has limped into
Read moreLondon afternoon: Modest rally continues
22nd Feb 2011 14:12
Shares continued to pare the morning's losses over the lunch time trading session, and from a position at the mid-morning stage where only five FTSE 100 constituents were in positive territory, by 2pm that number had grown to around 20. BHP Billiton is one of those that has limped into the black. T
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Contract concerns for BAE
22nd Feb 2011 12:23
Although the FTSE 100 is off its low for the day it remains well down. Worries about potential cancellations of defence projects hit BAE Systems. Rising oil prices have knocked International Consolidated Airlines Group. BHP Billiton has regained its early losses after it announced the acquisit
Read moreBAE chairman invests £22,000
18th Feb 2011 16:35
BAE Systems chairman Dick Olver has invested nearly £22,000 in the defence company's shares. He bought 3,343 shares at 337.6p each and his wife acquired 3,133 shares at 338.27p each. This follows yesterday's disappointing trading statement. BAE is expecting sales in 2011 to dip as cutbacks in go
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips close flat
17th Feb 2011 16:51
Footsie closed the day a shade higher having traded in a very narrow range all day as both buyers and sellers seem preoccupied with other things. Life insurance consolidator Resolution closed as top performer saying it is unlikely to make any further acquisitions this year. Instead, it will focus
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie stumbles after US CPI data
17th Feb 2011 14:43
Footsie fell back over the lunchtime session with sentiment taking a knock from a bigger than expected increase in US consumer prices. The US Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in January, as it did in December, on the back of higher fuel and food prices. Economists had pencilled in a 0.3% rise. On th
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks move higher
17th Feb 2011 12:22
Banks head the risers. Positive comment from Nomura has boosted Lloyds. Even so, RBS, HSBC and Barclays are also higher. African Barrick Gold continues to rise after yesterday's figures. BAE Systems has fallen after warning that sales in 2011 will decline as cutbacks in government spending star
Read moreTechMARK movers: BAE warns on sales
17th Feb 2011 12:07
BAE Systems has fallen after warning that sales in 2011 will decline as cutbacks in government spending start to bite. The defence company saw sales edge up by 1.8% in 2010 to £22.4bn, while underlying earnings per share climbed to 40.8p, versus market expectations of 41.85p. Asterand's bid/offer
Read moreLondon open: Shares edge higher
17th Feb 2011 08:40
The FTSE 100 has moved higher in early dealings, with miners helping to offset weakness on the back of company updates. African Barrick Gold, which yesterday announced strong sales figures for the full year, is leading the mining sector - and the FTSE 100 - higher. However, elsewhere in the FTSE
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to creep ahead
17th Feb 2011 07:38
Last night's two-year high on Wall Street and further gains in the Far East this morning look like nudging London up a couple of points in early trade. There's also the usual stampede of company results. B&Q owner Kingfisher expects full-year profit to be at the top end of expectations after stren
Read moreBAE Systems sales to slip in 2011
17th Feb 2011 07:02
Defence firm BAE Systems is expecting sales in 2011 to dip as cutbacks in government spending start to bite. The company saw sales edge up by 1.8% in 2010 to £22,392m from £21,990m in 2009. The market had pencilled in a figure of £22,548m for sales. Profit before tax from continuing operations
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividends dominate
9th Feb 2011 13:07
Footsie is down today but the fallers are dominated by shares going ex-dividend. They include International Power, GlaxoSmithkline, Royal Dutch Shell and Sage. International Power is paying a 92p a share special dividend as part of the merger with GDF Suez. The share price has fallen less than t
Read moreTechMARK movers: Ark sells woundcare assets
8th Feb 2011 12:47
Drug developer Ark Therapeutics is selling the majority of its woundcare business to Crawford Woundcare for £2.7m. The initial payment is £765,000 and the rest will paid on achievement of milestones. The disposal will help to reduce costs and provide additional cash to the company. Ark had £14.1m
Read moreSector movers: ARM gives tech sector a lift
1st Feb 2011 16:03
Chip giant ARM Holdings is giving the technology hardware and equipment sector a boost today after booming demand for mobile phones, tablet computers and other low-powered devices meant 2010 saw the highest ever annual revenues, profits and cash generation. Filtronic shares are also on the rise des
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