London open: Stocks jump on euro hopes
7th Dec 2011 08:15
The FTSE 100 jumped higher from the off on reports that European leaders are drawing up a plan to increase the region's firepower against the crisis. The index jumped to 5,611 early on, an intraday level not seen in almost a month (intraday high of 5,616 hit on 9 November). The European Union is pr
Read moreAG Barr confident despite pressures
7th Dec 2011 07:04
Scottish soft drinks maker AG Barr said current trading remains in line with company expectations and it is on track for the full year despite constrained consumer spending and fierce competition. The maker of Irn Bru and Tizer said revenue for the 18 weeks from 31 July increased by 5.6% compared t
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Topps Tiles, Albemarle & Bond, Hammerson
28th Sep 2011 06:34
In the good times, Topps Tiles saw as much as a quarter of sales coming from people moving house and upgrading the kitchen and bathroom. Today, the proportion is well below 10%, so it relies on discretionary purchases by existing home owners. Topps shares have now fallen to a level where, after yest
Read moreLondon close: Stocks soar as euro talks proceed
27th Sep 2011 16:33
The top share index surged in early dealings and continued heading higher towards the close amid optimism that European leaders will get to grips with the euro crisis. Talks are still ongoing about an expansion of the European Financial Stability Fund, with conflicting signals over whether an agree
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks advance on Euro hopes
27th Sep 2011 12:00
Stocks have built on their early morning gains as optimism that some kind of end to the Eurozone crisis is in sight continues. Talks are still ongoing about an expansion of the European Financial Stability Fund, with conflicting signals over whether an agreement is near failing to put investors of
Read moreLondon open: London follows Wall Street higher
27th Sep 2011 08:24
London's leading share index is posting big gains following a strong performance from Wall Street overnight. RBS leads the way as banks continue their strong performance from yesterday, while silver specialist Fresnillo leads the mining sector's recovery. Optimism that European leaders are making
Read morePromotions hold back Barr profit growth
27th Sep 2011 07:29
AG Barr, the maker of the orange fizzy drink IRN-BRU, posted flat profits in the half year to July 31 despite higher revenues amid strong promotional activity. Pre-tax profits for the period excluding exceptional items rose to £16.2m from £16m on total turnover that climbed by to £124m from £119.2m
Read moreLondon pre-open: Daily Mail profits to be at lower end
27th Sep 2011 07:22
The rally that started in London at about 1:30 yesterday afternoon is set to resume with renewed vigour this morning, as optimism grows that this time, after more false starts than the Grand National steeplechase on a foggy, blustery day, Europe's leaders are prepared to grasp the nettle and sort ou
Read moreTuesday preview: AG Barr to update on Irn-Bru invasion
26th Sep 2011 17:56
Scotland is the only country in the world where Coca-Cola is not the market leading fizzy pop drink, and it is also down to the success of Irn-Bru, the drinking man's morning-after pick-me-up, concocted by AG Barr. Panmure Gordon thinks the Scottish company's half-year performance will have been h
Read moreWeek Ahead: Smiths Group, AG Barr
23rd Sep 2011 14:17
Medical devices and airport scanners maker Smiths Group is set to declare full-year results on Wednesday, and the figures are expected to show a continuation of half-year trends, with strength at its John Crane unit offsetting weakness at the Detection business. "Detection issued a profit warning i
Read moreLondon close: Late rally lifts stocks
28th Jul 2011 16:41
Stocks finished in positive territory after a choppy day, with US economic data helping to spark a late rally. Weekly Initial jobless claims in the world's biggest economy fell below 400,000 for the first time since April and homes sales data also came in ahead of expectations. The rush of company
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall back after news flurry
28th Jul 2011 12:00
Stocks are in the red after this morning's splurge of company updates. Anglo-Dutch integrated oil company Royal Dutch Shell fell after it reported net income on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, excluding specific items, of $6.6bn, compared to $4.2bn in the second quarter of last year. The fi
Read moreBarr sales rise despite poor weather
28th Jul 2011 09:03
Scottish soft drinks firm AG Barr remains on track for a first half sales rise despite being hit by disappointing weather in the four weeks to 9 July. The maker of Irn-Bru, Tizer and a host of other drinks said sales for the six months to 30 July are expected to be up by about 3.5% from the same pe
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slump as euro debt worries continue
23rd May 2011 16:51
The top share index was nursing triple-digit losses by the close of play as the eurozone debt crisis continued to rumble on. The spotlight has turned to Italy, with the ratings agency Standard & Poors changing its stance on the Mediterranean country to "negative" from "stable." The situation is of
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Profits jump at MITIE
23rd May 2011 15:42
Outsourced service provider MITIE is the highest riser of the day after posting a sharp rise in profits for the year to 31 March. Pre-tax profits jumped to £86.8m from £79.7m the previous year on revenues that were up to £1.89bn from £1.72bn. "The opportunities in outsourcing and energy services in
Read more