30th Sep 2010 06:29
Downing Street appeared to be snubbing the banking industry yesterday as it finalised a 16-strong panel of corporate grandees to advise the Prime Minister on business matters. While manufacturing, construction, utilities, retailing and small businesses are well represented, no one from the banking
Read more28th Sep 2010 16:53
An upturn in the US buoyed sentiment on this side of the Atlantic too, helping Footsie to finish in the blue after a choppy day. The day started badly for London's leading share index but it. gradually recovered throughout the morning only to fall back after a poor start on Wall Street then rebound
Read more28th Sep 2010 14:12
Expectations of a firm start on Wall Street have lured buyers back into the market in London and the blue-chip index ended the lunch time session barely changed on the day. Hedge fund manager Man has been usurped as worst performing FTSE 100 stock by weapons systems developer BAE Systems. Defence f
Read more22nd Sep 2010 06:35
A new windfall tax on banks is being threatened by ministers amid concerns that many bankers will receive "irresponsible and unacceptable" bonuses this year. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, will claim today that bankers present more of a threat to Britain than trade unions. In an outspoken att
Read more20th Sep 2010 16:40
A strong start on Wall Street ensured Footsie finished with good gains having started the day on a strong footing. US shares moved ahead including housebuilder and economic bellwether Lennar, which beat profit forecasts. Part-nationalised banking giant Lloyds Banking held up well after it was ann
Read more20th Sep 2010 14:29
Stocks gave up a proportion of their gains over the lunch time session despite expectations of a firm start on Wall Street. Part-nationalised banking giant Lloyds Banking is holding up well after it was announced that chief executive Eric Daniels is to retire in a year's time. The move was not unex
Read more20th Sep 2010 12:09
Investors are in an optimistic frame of mind ahead of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting tomorrow. The 'glass half full' crowd are expecting the FOMC to announce further measures to revitalise the global economy. Barely a dozen Footsie constituents are in the red, an
Read more20th Sep 2010 08:37
UK blue chips have made good ground in early dealings with oil and mining groups in demand. BP is the top performer after the US coast guard signalled that the oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico has been permanently sealed. US authorities described the leak from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexic
Read more20th Sep 2010 07:26
UK blue chips are expected to post modest gains early doors as Wall Street ended higher Friday. Futures prices indicate an initial gain of about 16 points for the FTSE 100, hoping to snap a three-day losing streak. BAE Systems has strengthened its position in the US counter-terrorism market with t
Read more20th Sep 2010 07:04
BAE Systems has strengthened its position in the US counter-terrorism market with the acquisition of the consultancy division of American firm L-1 Identity Solutions. The UK weapons group will pay $296m in cash for the L-1 division, which comprises three firms SpecTal, Advanced Concepts and McClend
Read more15th Sep 2010 06:54
The three main growth areas for Hargreaves are niche coal supplies in Europe, renewable power and the development of the Tower Colliery in Wales, bought by the miners in 1995 after it was closed down. Tower is to reopen in the spring, the coal extracted over seven years and the site then redevelop
Read more14th Sep 2010 06:50
BAE shares have been poor performers since the start of 2009 and various analysts believe the fall has been overdone. Further clarification in the spending review might set nerves at rest, but for now BAE shares sell on a relatively inexpensive seven times this year's earnings with the buttress of
Read more13th Sep 2010 16:42
Shares continued rising Monday as they reacted positively to new banking regulations and Chinese economic data. London is up for the fourth session in a row and trading higher for the eleventh day out of twelve, up at a new four-month high. Stocks haven't been this high since 30 April. Banks were
Read more13th Sep 2010 15:27
The leading index is near its best levels of the day following a strong start on Wall Street, fuelled by new Basel III bank rules and impressive Chinese factory output. London is up for the fourth session in a row and trading higher for the eleventh day out of twelve, up at a new four-month high. S
Read more13th Sep 2010 12:20
London's strong start to the day has continued with banks, miners and the odd sprinkling of bid talk giving buyers lots to bite on. Banks are among the top risers after a less stringent than feared Basle III decision by the European banking body. Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are both in demand
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