FTSE 100 movers: Rolls-Royce tops the chart
13th Oct 2011 12:36
Global power systems firm Rolls-Royce was the high riser on Thursday after it revealed two major initiatives which are expected to significantly raise its operating profits in the future. Following close behind was Hargreaves Lansdown, after the wealth management stockbroking firm said first-quart
Read moreUPDATE: Fitch could downgrade UK banks today, says Sky News
13th Oct 2011 11:17
The banks tumbled lower late Thursday morning - despite rising earlier on - on the back of reports that Fitch could cut ratings across sector. Barclays was the heaviest faller, losing over 4% as of 11:48, while HSBC and Lloyds were also under the cosh. "The credit ratings agency Fitch is poised to
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish after choppy day
12th Oct 2011 16:36
London's leading share index closed in the blue as worries over the Slovak parliament's rejection of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) gave way to optimism that it will be passed. SLOVAK SEE-SAW Late Tuesday night, just 55 of the 150 MPs in Slovakia's parliament voted in favour of expan
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rally as Slovak shock fades
12th Oct 2011 12:05
London's leading share index has staged an impressive rally with worries following the Slovakian parliament's rejection of the euro bailout fund giving way to hopes that the small central European state will soon ratify the deal. SLOVAK HEADACHE, GERMAN REASSURANCE Late Tuesday night, just 55 of t
Read moreLondon open: EFSF worries weigh on Footsie
12th Oct 2011 08:28
Just eight of the 100 stocks on the Footsie were making gains on Wednesday morning, following the news that the Slovakia failed to agree on the extension of the Eurozone rescue fund. SLOVAKIAN HEADACHE Late Tuesday night, just 55 of the 150 MPs in Slovakia's parliament voted in favour of expanding
Read moreLondon close: Dull end to volatile week
7th Oct 2011 17:28
UK stocks reacted positively to better than expected US jobs data, with the Footsie recovering from a negative position to a positive one, but as the day drew to a close, traders quietly banked profits ahead of the week-end. Though the Footsie ended the day with only a modest rise, it capped a stro
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks tread water ahead of US jobs data
7th Oct 2011 12:46
Losses are reasonably modest considering that some heavyweights from the banking sector are in the doldrums following a downgrade of 12 financial institutions by ratings agency Moody's. Stocks seem to be treading water ahead of a key employment report due out in the US before the opening bell in N
Read moreLondon open: Banks take a hit after Moody's downgrade
7th Oct 2011 08:32
Equities took a knock in early trading after Moody's dampened sentiment with the downgrade of 12 UK financial institutions. Stocks were expected to extend gains made over the last two days on the back of hopes for the struggling Eurozone. BANKS LEAD THE FALLERS The banks were the worst performers
Read moreRBS and 11 other banks hit by downgrade
7th Oct 2011 08:24
UK bank stocks have been hit following a downgrade to 12 financial institutions by the credit ratings agency Moody's. Lloyds TSB, Santander UK and the Co-Operative Bank were downgraded one notch, while Nationwide and RBS went down two levels. Smaller institutions, including Clydesdale Bank were al
Read moreLondon close: Late surge propels Footsie 3.7% higher
6th Oct 2011 16:35
The Footsie finished at the highest level of the day, with just four stocks in the red, as gains were built on after the opening bell in New York, which saw stocks rise on the back of a better-than-expected unemployment claims report. It was a busy day on the macroeconomic front with policy rate de
Read moreLondon open: Footsie jumps back above 5,000, retailers mixed
5th Oct 2011 08:37
The Footsie has clawed its way back over the 5,000 level on Wednesday morning, with just four stocks registering losses, following on from a dramatic rally on Wall Street late Tuesday night. Driving the bull market in the last hour in the US - which saw the Dow swing 400 points - were reports from
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes well below 5,000
4th Oct 2011 17:31
Though share prices recovered a tad after some reassuring noises from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, London still finished the day deep on the red, with the Footsie well below the psychologically important 5,000 level. Federal Reserve president Ben Bernanke told the Joint Economic Committe
Read moreLondon midday: Banks plummet, retailers buck trend
4th Oct 2011 12:29
A decent performance from the retail sector was not enough to pull the market higher by lunchtime, as investors bailed out of banking, engineering and mining stocks on concerns over the global economy. Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup finance minister committee, has said that there wi
Read moreLondon open: Financial drag Footsie towards 5,000
4th Oct 2011 08:30
The poor performance seen Monday has continued with the Footsie dropping towards the 5,000 mark once again in the opening minutes, as concerns in the Eurozone continue to dominate the markets. Nevertheless, there were further messages of support for Greece - even if they have yet to be backed up by
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: 'Neutral' Burberry heading lower
3rd Oct 2011 14:07
Shares were down at Burberry after Nomura maintained its neutral rating on the British luxury brand ahead of the group's first half trading update on 12 October. The broker expects Burberry to report 29% constant currency sales growth to £820m, but forecasts a 50 basis point decline in the first ha
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