London open: Poor start for blue chips
28th Sep 2010 08:47
London is heading lower led by Thomas Cook after a gloomy update, while miners and banks are also under pressure after a weak finish on Wall Street overnight. Tour operator Cook said it has now started a review of its UK cost base after softer than expected business over the summer and in view of t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Leading shares stalled
28th Sep 2010 07:33
London looks set for a flat opening, continuing the lack of direction seen for much of yesterday's session. Hedge fund manager Man's first half profits will fall by a fifth to $215m as performance fees dwindled after a tough half for its flagship AHL fund. Funds under management have stabilised r
Read moreAG Barr sales growth outperforms the market
28th Sep 2010 07:12
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr achieved sales growth well in advance of the market in the first half of its financial year. Total turnover in the six months to 31 July rose 13.9% to £119.2m from £103.7m in the corresponding period of 2009. That was ahead of the guidance figure of £118m issued at the end of
Read moreLondon close: US gloom offsets company cheer
29th Jul 2010 16:33
Footsie closed slightly in the red, despite starting well on the back of well-received company updates, as weakness in the US spread across the Atlantic. AstraZeneca closed sharply higher. The group's potential blockbuster heart drug Brilinta has received the backing of a US advisory panel just as
Read moreUK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Surf's Up For Plantic Technology
29th Jul 2010 16:00
Dow Jones smallcap news is now on Twitter, allowing you to catch up on the news away from your desk. Go to http://twitter.com/DJ_UK_Smallcaps PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (PLNT.LN), a maker of biodegradable packaging for food, Thursday said it agreed terms for a takeover offer from the founder of
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie off the top
29th Jul 2010 14:28
The Footsie drifted lower over the lunch time session though still remained in positive territory, thanks in large part to enthusiastic responses to results from heavy hitters AstraZeneca, BT and Reed Elsevier. AstraZeneca is sharply higher. The group's potential blockbuster heart drug Brilinta has
Read moreUK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Antisoma To Return Cash If Programs Fail
29th Jul 2010 12:30
Dow Jones smallcap news is now on Twitter, allowing you to catch up on the news away from your desk. Go to http://twitter.com/DJ_UK_Smallcaps ANTISOMA PLC (ASM.LN), a biotechnology company, said it will return any cash it has left to shareholders if its two lead drug programs fail clinical tria
Read moreLondon midday: PartyGaming jumps on bwin merger
29th Jul 2010 11:57
Company results have given traders plenty to ponder and shares are broadly higher, but online betting group PartyGaming is the star performer after announcing a merger with Austrian rival bwin. PartyGaming said the merger would create the world's largest listed online gaming business. Elsewhere i
Read moreUK SMALLCAP ROUNDUP: Connaught Secures GBP15M Overdraft
29th Jul 2010 09:30
Dow Jones smallcap news is now on Twitter, allowing you to catch up on the news away from your desk. Go to http://twitter.com/DJ_UK_Smallcaps CONNAUGHT PLC (CNT.LN) Thursday said it has agreed terms on a GBP15 million short-term overdraft with its lenders, as well as the deferral of interest an
Read moreLondon open: Astra leads advance
29th Jul 2010 08:49
London's blue chips are cautiously higher in early dealings on Thursday as investors consider a bunch of corporate figures. AstraZeneca is the best performer in early dealings. The group's potential blockbuster heart drug Brilinta has received the backing of a US advisory panel just as the drug gia
Read moreAG Barr Sees FY Results Topping Mgmt View But 2H Seen Tougher
29th Jul 2010 08:01
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Soft drinks maker A.G. Barr PLC (BAG.LN) Thursday said it expects its full-year result to top current management expectations, following a strong first half in which it expects to grow sales 13% on last year, although it expects tougher trading in its second half. The Irn-Bru
Read moreAG Barr to beat forecasts
29th Jul 2010 07:59
Scottish soft drinks maker AG Barr expects full year trading to beat forecasts after sales continued to perform ahead of the market in the first half. Total sales revenue is expected to reach £118m for the six month period ending 31 July, an increase of 13% on the prior year, thanks to strong perfo
Read moreMARKET TALK: Britvic Reports A Robust Update - Shore
23rd Jul 2010 08:06
0706 GMT [Dow Jones] Britvic's (BVIC.LN) trading statement shows a resilient performance and is a robust update, says Shore Capital. Says underlying British, international and Irish businesses see revenue growth for the quarter of 6.9% against the prior year. Notes that management remains cautious a
Read moreFirstGroup chief executive's wife sells stake
16th Jun 2010 15:17
The wife of Sir Muir Lockhead, the chief executive of FirstGroup has sold her stake worth nearly £400,000 in the bus and train operator. Lady Audrey Lockhead offloaded just over 100,000 shares in the company at 394.2p a time. She no longer has any shares in the company, but her husband still has a
Read moreLondon afternoon: Back to square one
24th May 2010 13:42
Footsie has limped back into positive territory, helped by an about turn by the mining stocks. After spending the morning down in the dumps Rio Tinto is now the best performing mining stock as metal prices head northwards. Fellow mining stocks Xstrata and Anglo American join Rio on the rise but S
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