London midday: Resource stocks under the weather
24th May 2010 12:35
Resource stocks have driven the Footsie into the red after a bright start. The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has cost BP about $760m (£525m) so far and the under-fire oil giant faces being "pushed out of the way" if its clean-up operation doesn't do better. So far 23,000 claims have been fi
Read moreLondon close: Shares limp higher
24th May 2010 10:50
On an largely directionless day for Footsie, the leading share index was just a few points higher at trading's close. Shares in BP were under pressure again. The oil giant followed what has become a daily update on the oil leak situation in the Gulf of Mexico with an announcement that it will pay
Read moreLondon open: Bright start in London
24th May 2010 08:49
London has made a bright start in all senses with the index picking up handily and the weather matching it. Prudential is the best performer on reports that US firm AIG has drawn up plans to float its Asian arm again if the Pru's attempts to buy it collapse. Miners are also going well on the rally
Read moreLondon pre-open: Sizzling start in store
24th May 2010 07:40
The sun is shining in London and it looks like the stock market will make a similarly bright start to the week with traders expecting the FTSE 100 to open around 30 points higher. South African platinum miner Lonmin's plans to get its Number One furnace back fully on line have hit a snag that will
Read moreAG Barr sales remain ahead
24th May 2010 07:01
AG Barr, the Scottish soft drinks maker best known for its iconic Irn Bru concoction, said sales have continued frothing over in the new financial year. Back on 22 March the company reported that sales growth in the first seven weeks of the new financial year were ahead of the same period last year
Read moreNew McBride boss buys
13th May 2010 15:57
McBride's new chief executive Christopher Bull has invested nearly £170,000 in buying an initial stake in the private label household products manufacturer. Bull has bought 90,000 shares at an average price of 188.19p a share one week after he took over as chief executive. Bull was previously chi
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Mixed day for commodity stocks
20th Apr 2010 12:54
While it has been a busy day on the company news front in the FTSE 100, there has been little to move shares in the mid-cap index. Resource stocks are mixed, with oil group Wellstream and zinc and nickel miner Talvivaara vying for top spot, but oil and gas group Melrose Resources among the heaviest
Read moreAvesco founder adds to stake
6th Apr 2010 16:36
Deputy chairman Richard Murray is buying shares in Avesco Group at a time when there is stake building by an investment company. Taya Investment Company increased its stake in the broadcast and presentation equipment supplier and renter to 26.6% last month. Taya has been building up this stake i
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: M&B in demand
25th Mar 2010 15:02
Shares in Mitchells & Butlers, which yesterday said it is to focus on food and will likely exit some of its best known drinks chains including All Bar One and O'Neill's, are higher. Elsewhere in beverage-related stocks Irn Bru maker AG Barr, which on Monday reported a 21% jump in full-year pre-tax
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: ICAP, Regus, AG Barr
23rd Mar 2010 06:40
ICAP's discontinued cash equities business clocked up operating losses of about £25m in the year to the end March - more than the £18m loss that the market was expecting, according to broker forecasts. On 12.6 times forecasts for 2011, ICAP looks fairly valued. But despite the uncertainties, this
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers losses
22nd Mar 2010 17:05
Footsie finished just a few points lower after an improvement on Wall Street helped London's leading share index recover most of its earlier losses. South Africa-focused bank Investec is leading the revival on its first day as a FTSE 100 constituent. Smiths Group is right behind after Smiths Interc
Read moreLondon afternoon: US strength sparks rally
22nd Mar 2010 15:19
A firm start on Wall Street has given London a lift and pushed the Footsie back towards Friday's closing level. South Africa-focused bank Investec is leading the revival on its first day as a FTSE 100 constituent. Smiths Group is right behind after Smiths Interconnect, a division of the technology
Read moreLondon open: Weak start for Footsie
22nd Mar 2010 08:43
London has pulled back from last week's 21-month high after Wall Street's eight-day winning streak ended Friday. Royal Dutch Shell is in the news, after Australian coal bed methane producer Arrow Energy agreed to a raised bid worth A3.4bn (£2.06bn) bid from the UK oil giant and partner PetroChina.
Read moreLondon pre-open: On the back foot
22nd Mar 2010 07:40
London is set to pull back from last week's 21-month high after Wall Street's eight-day winning streak ended Friday. Futures prices are indicating an initial 20-point drop for the FTSE 100 Monday. Royal Dutch Shell is in the news, after Australian coal bed methane producer Arrow Energy agreed to a
Read moreAG Barr profit jumps, current sales ahead
22nd Mar 2010 07:19
Irn Bru maker AG Barr reported a 21% jump in full-year pre-tax profits and said current trading is ahead of the same period last year. Profit on ordinary activities before tax and exceptional items increased to £27.9m in the year ended 30 January from £23.1m last time. Turnover increased by 18.7% t
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