FTSE 100 movers: Ashmore bucks the trend
5th Apr 2012 14:32
Fund manager Ashmore was bucking the downward trend of the financial sector after UBS raised its rating on the stock from neutral to buy. The broker said that its recent under-performance, combined with the strong fund performance and record inflows at industry level, was the reason behind the upgra
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie down after manufacturing data, BoE holds rates
5th Apr 2012 11:41
- BoE holds rates, QE - UK manufacturing in surprise decline - Financials lead Footsie lower, Ashmore bucks trend After a cautious start, the Footsie found its direction by mid-morning, falling steeply after some worse-than-expected domestic manufacturing data. Meanwhile, the Bank of England's po
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
5th Apr 2012 08:00
Antofagasta: AlphaValue upgrades from reduce to add, target cut from 1,233.6p to 1,211.5p. Aveva: Merchant Securities raises target from 1,785p to 1,800p, buy rating kept. Ashmore: UBS upgrades from neutral to buy, target lifted from 400p to 420p. Barclays: AlphaValue upgrades from reduced to add
Read moreSector movers: Diageo rises on Jose Cuervo speculation
2nd Apr 2012 15:10
Drinks giants Diageo and SABMiller were making decent gains on Monday afternoon, meaning that the beverages sector was at the top of the pile. Diageo is rumoured to be nearing the acquisition of a further stake in Mexican tequila maker Jose Cuervo. According to media reports, Diageo could be buying
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks flat after mixed macro data
2nd Apr 2012 11:36
- Chinese, UK PMIs beat expectations in March - Eurozone PMI disappoints, jobless rate on the up - RBS to dish out dosh to preference shareholders London's blue chips pared earlier gains after some gloomy economic data from Europe. Miners were performing well after better-than-expected manufacturin
Read moreLondon close: Eurozone worries dampen UK stocks
29th Mar 2012 16:35
- Stocks dragged down by Eurozone concerns - International Power receives approach from GDF Suez - FirstGroup plummets after gloomy update London's FTSE 100 index sank to its lowest levels of the day by the close of trade on Thursday with Eurozone worries once again in focus as bond yields in Italy
Read moreFinancial complaints soared in second half of 2011
28th Mar 2012 14:41
Financial complaints soared in 2011, with over 12,000 a day is the second half of last year, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has revealed. The volume of complaints received by the FSA were up 21% compared to the first half of the year. Complaints about loan insurance rocketed a whopping 8
Read moreLondon close: Oil and gas stocks slump after North Sea gas leak
27th Mar 2012 16:27
- Elgin gas leak weighs on stocks - Wolseley, Compass disappoint after updates - Banks rise, RBS wanted on speculation UK stocks slumped in afternoon trade as earlier optimism quickly faded with consumer confidence data from the US disappointing late on. Meanwhile, oil and gas heavyweights were pro
Read moreLondon midday: Gains pared despite strong performance by banks
27th Mar 2012 11:55
- Government may cut stake in RBS - Defensives sold off - Resolution could split before sale The Footsie was nearly back where it started by midday, after gains were trimmed as heavy losses for Resolution, Compass and utilities stocks weighed on the blue chip index. The earlier rise for London's
Read moreLondon open: RBS leads the rise early on
27th Mar 2012 08:46
- Government may cut stake in RBS - Rio Tinto considers offloading diamond interests - Resolution could split before sale A strong performance by the banks helped push the FTSE 100 higher on Tuesday morning as the market continues to be boosted by recent comments by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Read moreFinancial Policy Committee tells banks to raise capital ASAP
23rd Mar 2012 12:46
The Bank of England (BoE) has warned banks that they must raise external capital as early as is feasible. The Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which acts as a watchdog for the BoE, published a report expressing its concerns that "capital is not yet at levels that would ensure resilience in the fac
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drag Footsie lower
23rd Mar 2012 11:55
- Footsie on track for worst weekly performance YTD - Miners fall, Randgold still hampered by Malian concerns - BT rises on pension deficit arrangement After a strong start, a sell-off in the mining sector dragged the Footsie into the red by lunchtime. Rising commodity prices did little to lift the
Read moreLondon open: BT leads the risers early on
23rd Mar 2012 08:38
The Footsie rose in the opening hour of Friday's session, helped by a strong performance by financial stocks. Company news was thin on the ground early on but BT was the best performer after announcing plans to eliminate its pension deficit within 10 years. The blue chip index remains nearly 100 po
Read moreBBA mortgage approvals slump
23rd Mar 2012 08:22
The British Bankers Association (BBA), whose members dole out almost two-thirds of mortgages to British home buyers, said mortgage approvals for new homes fell more sharply than expected in February. BBA members approved 33,103 applications for mortgages on new dwellings in February, down sharply f
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull the Footsie lower
20th Mar 2012 08:36
- Miners fall as BHP warns of slowing steel production in China - OBR to raise UK GDP forecasts for 2012 - ARM, National Grid, United Utilities rise after upgrades The FTSE 100 slumped in the opening hour on Tuesday as the miners dragged the blue chip index into the red for a second day. According
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