London close: Investors take profits ahead of Christmas
21st Dec 2012 16:31
- Cancelled 'Plan B' vote results in sell-off - Boehner pledges to continue negotiations - Miners and financials in the red While stocks managed to stage a small comeback in afternoon trade, the UK market finished the week on a dull note, with 'fiscal cliff' fears dampening the festive cheer ahead
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners and financials in the red
21st Dec 2012 15:07
Miners and financial stocks were bearing the brunt of the bearish mood on markets on Friday as investors cut positions in riskier assets on concerns over the US economy. However, Randgold Resources was bucking the trend as gold prices advanced following heavy losses this week. Banks were under th
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite scaled back on 'fiscal cliff' fears
21st Dec 2012 11:20
On the last full day of trading before the Christmas holiday, there was little evidence of a 'Santa Rally' on the FTSE 100 with worries about the 'fiscal cliff' Stateside providing a drag on the market. "This week will likely be remembered for the US fiscal cliff hanging over the markets and invest
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall after Republicans cancel 'plan B' vote
21st Dec 2012 08:20
Concerns over the US 'fiscal cliff' increased overnight after House Speaker John Boehner cancelled a vote on a back-up tax-cut plan after failing to receive enough support by his own party. As expected, stock markets across Europe were registering moderate losses in early trading on Friday. Marke
Read moreLondon close: Gains pared after White House comments on 'fiscal cliff'
19th Dec 2012 16:57
The UK stock market staged a slight 'Santa rally' on Wednesday, with risk appetite increasing before Christmas on the back of a Greek ratings upgrade and a better-than-expected reading of German confidence. "Santa has returned to the markets, bringing some much needed cheer before the Christmas bre
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials, IAG and CRH lead the risers
19th Dec 2012 15:31
Insurance and banking stocks were performing well on Wednesday afternoon after Credit Suisse upgraded its ratings on both sectors this morning. Lloyds was up 4% after the Swiss broker raised its view on European banks to 'benchmark' from 'small underweight', saying that the stock looks "abnormally
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on hopes over Greece
19th Dec 2012 08:16
UK stocks were making gains in early trading on Wednesday with sentiment being lifted by improving developments in Greece. Yesterday evening, S&P upgraded its rating for Greece from 'selective default' to 'B-minus'. The yield on a 10-year Greek bond was down 13 basis points at 12.7% this morning.
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Nissan, UBS, Barclays...
19th Dec 2012 06:52
Britain's biggest carmaker has given the British automotive industry a big boost by announcing it is to start building premium-priced cars under its upmarket Infiniti brand in Sunderland. The move by Nissan, which is already bringing Britain its first mass-produced all-electric car, the Leaf, will c
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Rolls Royce, RBS, Public finances
16th Dec 2012 18:08
A former employee at the centre of the Rolls-Royce corruption case has claimed the company paid a second bribe of 25m dollars to an Indonesian businessman to help it to secure a 2010 jet engine contract. The British aero-engine maker won a 420m dollars (260m pounds) contract in July 2010 from Garuda
Read moreLondon close: 'Fiscal cliff' concerns keep markets under pressure
13th Dec 2012 16:45
- Boehner says White House not serious about 'cliff' - Stocks shrug off Fed stimulus - Centamin plummets after mine suspension Stocks markets across Europe took a breather on Thursday, following a strong performance over the last month, as investors digested stimulus plans by the Federal Reserve an
Read moreBarclays expected to cut 2,000 jobs
13th Dec 2012 15:51
Barclays is reportedly set to announce its plans to cut 2,000 jobs in its investment bank early next year. The British banking giant is preparing to axe positions as part of a broad restructuring of the company, according to reports Thursday. It is a fairly insignificant scale-back for the compan
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
13th Dec 2012 07:22
Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec reduces target price from 93p to 68p and downgrades from buy to hold. Numis downgrades to hold, while maintaining the target price at 165p. Canaccord Genuity moves target price from 93p to 90p and retains a buy recommendation. Anglo American: JP Morgan moves tar
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Barclays, UK AAA, China
9th Dec 2012 13:51
An international trade war is threatening to erupt over an American plan that would force Barclays and Deutsche Bank to pump more cash into their Wall Street operations. Daniel Tarullo, a governor of the Federal Reserve, wants tougher capital and liquidity rules for all foreign banks operating in Am
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Starbucks, Barclays, Citigroup...
7th Dec 2012 06:51
Starbucks has taken the 'unprecedented' step of pledging to pay 20m pounds corporation tax, even if it makes no profit - only for the move to appear to backfire and fuel the fiasco surrounding its UK operation. In a bid to end the pressure on the coffee chain, the US giant dramatically broke off tal
Read moreLondon midday: Gains erased as investors await ECB decision
6th Dec 2012 12:08
The Footsie had erased most of the morning's gains by Thursday lunchtime, as investors awaited a policy rate decision in Europe and some jobless claims figures in the US later this afternoon. As expected, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to maintain the Bank Rate at 0.5% at tod
Read more