London midday: Black morning for banks
2nd Nov 2009 12:10
Though it has not been a good morning to hold financial stocks, the FTSE 100 index still had a positive session, thanks largely to strong demand for mining stocks. Sharply higher metal prices and news that Randgold Resources is keen to bring the renamed Kibali mine into production as soon as possi
Read moreLondon open: Early gains for Footsie
2nd Nov 2009 08:57
London's blue chips have opened higher driven by resource stocks though it is banking shares that are the main focus. Royal Bank of Scotland is close to an agreement with the government over its proposed participation in the toxic asset protection scheme (APS) and also confirmed weekend reports it
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to inch higher
2nd Nov 2009 07:37
London's blue chips are expected to open marginally higher with banking shares likely to be in focus early on. Royal Bank of Scotland is close to an agreement with the government over its proposed participation in the toxic asset protection scheme (APS) and also confirmed weekend reports it will ha
Read moreBabcock beefs up nuclear business
2nd Nov 2009 07:14
Support services firm Babcock has bought nuclear site management UKAEA from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. Babcock has paid £38m for UKAEA, a company which generated £32m of revenue in the year to 31 March 2009. UKAEA has more than 50 years of experience in nuclear site management, o
Read moreLondon close: Best ever quarterly gain for Footsie
30th Sep 2009 17:00
Wall Street fell out of bed at the start of its trading day after the release of disappointing business activity data and London quickly followed the US market downwards. However, a rally in the last half hour ensured that the FTSE 100 enjoyed its best ever quarterly percentage gain since the index
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still lacking direction
30th Sep 2009 14:20
Footsie has continued its recent sluggish run, with company updates pulling the leading share index in both directions, but remains set for a record quarterly gain. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the in
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 on course for record quarter
30th Sep 2009 12:13
Footsie still looks on course for a record quarterly gain, but early strong rises have been whittled away ahead of the US open. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the industry, the performance outlook is h
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Rail and bus stocks slow down
30th Sep 2009 10:56
Transport stocks have hit the buffers slightly after FirstGroup said overall trading remains in line with management expectations but warned the transport industry faces a challenging year ahead. The rail and bus group is joined lower by peer Stagecoach. Support services specialist Babcock is hurt
Read moreLondon open: Early gains for Footsie
30th Sep 2009 08:47
Footsie has shrugged off a sluggish performance in the US overnight and is now pushing ahead again. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the industry, the performance outlook is healthy and the prospects for
Read moreLondon pre-open: Slight fall expected
30th Sep 2009 07:45
Footsie is expected to fall by a couple of points in early dealings, continuing its rather sluggish performance of recent days. Fashion and food retailer Marks & Spencer posted a 0.5% fall in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 26 September as recession-hit shoppers stayed frugal. Chairman Sir S
Read moreBabcock loses high output rail contract
30th Sep 2009 07:10
Support services specialist Babcock has lost its contract with Network Rail for High Output Track Renewal operations, but trading overall is as expected. Network Rail told it today that its Babcock SB Rail joint venture with Swietelsky Baugesellschaft had lost the contract, it said. Amey Colas is N
Read moreBabcock buys UK nuclear assets
18th Sep 2009 13:47
Engineering support services firm Babcock International has agreed to buy UKAEA, the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s commercial arm, for £50m in cash. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said the disposal generates good value for the tax payer. 'Today's announcement is good news for UKAEA and its emp
Read moreBabcock trading in line, upbeat outlook
9th Jul 2009 07:35
Engineering support services company Babcock International said the new financial year has started well and trading so far has been in line with company expectations. The group added that it expects another year of 'excellent progress'. "The major markets in which we operate remain resilient and w
Read moreBabcock limits pensions exposure
26th Jun 2009 08:31
Engineering support services company Babcock International has put a liabilities cap on one of its defined benefit pension schemes. The trustees of Babcock’s Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited defined benefit pension scheme have entered into a contract with Credit Suisse to limit their exposure to th
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Serco, Babcock, Stobart
13th May 2009 06:52
Outsource group Serco said yesterday that 2009 has started strongly and that it is on track to meet full-year expectations. The group trades at a deserved premium. The shares have come off a little since December, which now makes Serco a better punt. Buy says the Independent. There are some compell
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