FTSE 100 Movers: Banks lead the charge
28th Nov 2011 14:17
Lenders Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds and Standard Chartered are all sharply higher on the prospect that their losses on European sovereign debt may not now be so severe. Lenders were buoyed by suggestions that progress is being made on the souped-up version of the European Financial St
Read moreLondon midday: Eurozone hopes boost banks
28th Nov 2011 12:18
Stocks markets across Europe are racing ahead and London is no exception, with the top-share index now back above the level it closed at on Monday night. Banks are prominent among the best performers, buoyed by suggestions that progress is being made on the souped-up version of the European Financ
Read moreLondon open: Sun comes out for Thomas Cook
28th Nov 2011 08:45
Banks are leading London higher, buoyed by reports that the Eurozone finance ministers are set to do them a favour when they meet in Brussels tomorrow. Reports say the finance chiefs are discussing the possibility that the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) could insure the bonds of debt
Read moreMarkets welcome £200m lifeline for Thomas Cook
28th Nov 2011 07:44
Shares in troubled tour-operator Thomas Cook shot up on Monday morning in reaction news issued late on Friday that the cash-strapped firm has reached an agreement with its bankers to provide the company with a new lending facility. Shares were nearly 50^ in the first half-hour of trading to 27p.
Read moreS&P to update ratings for 30 main banks
18th Nov 2011 10:03
Debt ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) plans to update its ratings for the world's thirty largest banks within three weeks, which could lead to some rating cuts, reports broadcaster CNBC. Bank of America, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley are among the banks that could be downgraded, said Baylor La
Read moreLondon close: Footsie stages late recovery
15th Nov 2011 16:38
London's FTSE 100 index bucked the trend in global markets on Tuesday to trade broadly flat by the close despite some heavy falls for Burberry and the banks. Some slightly better-than-expected domestic economic news seemed to lift sentiment in the UK during the day. Worth noting, UBS has set its ye
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Surpise fall for Burberry
15th Nov 2011 13:43
It was a surprise fall for Burberry, the luxury fashion retailer, which has seen profits before tax rise 26% to £162m on revenues of £830m, while the interim dividend has been raised by 40% to 7p per share. Even after Nomura upped its full-year numbers, saying it sees "significant growth potential
Read moreLondon midday: Euro concerns dampen sentiment, Burberry falls
15th Nov 2011 12:05
Just six stocks were in the blue by midday, as reports of political difficulties for the Italy's Prime Minister-in-waiting shook investors' nerves. London's blue chip index remains firmly in negative territory, registering a fall of 1.35% by 12:05. ITALIAN, SPANISH YIELDS ON THE RISE Former EU Com
Read moreLondon close: Financials lower as euro fears persist
14th Nov 2011 16:40
Financials led the decline on Monday, bearing the brunt of Eurozone contagion fears. All eyes were on the bond market as yields on Italian and Spanish debt crept higher. ALL EYES ON BOND MARKETS The Italian Treasury met its target after issuing €3bn in five-year debt today, and while demand improv
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Smith & Nephew, ITV lead the risers
14th Nov 2011 13:56
Medical equipment manufacturer Smith & Nephew was the high riser helped by Exane BNP Paribas which upped its recommendation on the stock from neutral to outperform. ITV, Britain's biggest private terrestrial broadcaster, was heading north after reporting a 4% rise in revenues in the nine months to
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie retreats after positive start
14th Nov 2011 12:18
The early optimism faded in late morning trade, with the Footsie now trading nearly 1% lower despite a positive start early on, after an Italian bond sale saw significantly higher yields than last month's. Meanwhile, investors will still be digesting the latest shake-ups in Italian and Greek politic
Read moreMonday broker round-up - UPDATE
14th Nov 2011 09:19
Barclays: Goldman Sachs cuts to sell from neutral. BG Group: Evolution Securities keeps buy recommendation and 1,800p target. BG Group: Nomura maintains buy and 1,750p target. ITV: Peel Hunt retains buy and 73p target. ITV: Investec maintains hold rating and 55p target. Cairn Energy: UBS cuts
Read moreLondon close: Italian vote drives late surge
11th Nov 2011 16:46
Just four stocks finished in the red in London as the Footsie closed 1.85% higher, near its highest levels of the day. Sentiment was given a lift around midday after positive newsflow out of Italy and some encouraging economic data from the US. ITALIAN YIELDS DOWN; US DATA PROVIDES A LIFT Italy's
Read moreLondon open: Footsie up as Eurozone fears ease
11th Nov 2011 08:21
London's blue chips were on the rise in the opening minutes following on from moderate gains seen on Wall Street last night and in Asian markets this morning. News of a new national unity government in Italy and the revealing of a new Greek prime minister has calmed fears slightly elsewhere in the E
Read moreBarclays to sell Barclays Private Equity to management for £45m
11th Nov 2011 07:15
Barclays Bank is to sell the management company and associated companies which form Barclays Capital's management buy-out business, Barclays Private Equity, to its management team. The management team will then re-launch the business as Equistone Partners Europe. In a statement, the firm said: "E
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