London close: Stocks soar as outlook brightens
12th Aug 2011 16:40
Stocks were posting meaty gains heading into the weekend after four Eurozone countries banned short-selling banking stocks and strong retail sales in the US. France, Italy, Spain and Belgium have banned short-selling of financial stocks in an attempt to prevent further slides in banking stocks' sha
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks give up weak start
12th Aug 2011 12:25
London's leading share index is posting strong gains now, in line with mainland European bourses following the short selling ban. France, Italy, Spain and Belgium have banned short-selling of financial stocks in an attempt to prevent further slides in banking stocks' share prices. Barclays and oth
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: SocGen likes the look of UK peers
12th Aug 2011 10:00
Despite ongoing economic instability, Barclays topped the leader board in the morning session in London, with Lloyds and RBS hot on its heels, helped by an upbeat research note on the sector from Societe Generale. Commodities trader Glencore took a small hit despite crude oil closing at its highes
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rally after strong start in US
11th Aug 2011 16:30
The volatile trading continued on Thursday as losses were turned into gains in London on the back of a rally on Wall Street. A steep rise was seen after midday erased earlier losses and helped the Footsie to finish near its highs for the day. Equities were on the rise in morning trade in New York a
Read moreSector movers: 9% gain for Barclays boosts banks
11th Aug 2011 15:42
Every sector was notching up gains on Thursday afternoon as the markets in London surged on the back of a positive start on Wall Street. Mondi, the biggest company of the five forestry and paper stocks rose over 6.6% in late afternoon trading, sending the sector to the top of the pile. The paper an
Read moreSector movers: Micro Focus provides spark in software sector
10th Aug 2011 14:20
The software and computer services sector was in demand on Wednesday after results and updates from three of its constituents. FTSE 250 legacy software specialist Micro Focus soared after it revealed that it is trading ahead of expectations. The upbeat trading statement made a change from profit wa
Read moreLondon close: Footsie bounces after morning sell-off
9th Aug 2011 16:45
Following another steep decline in early trading, the Footsie clawed its way back, surging nearly 400 points since the mid-morning to finish 1.89% higher. The blue chip index closed up 96 points. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting, with markets eagerly waiting to hear of
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks bounce back
9th Aug 2011 12:19
The top share index has staged a strong recovery having plunged below the 5,000 point mark amid continued nervousness over economic growth. The Footsie tumbled below the 4,900 mark in mid-morning trade, with the blue chip index losing over 3% of its value for the second straight session. The sell-
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: ENRC, London riots, Chicken Tonight, China accuses the US, Barclays
9th Aug 2011 06:07
One of the FTSE's biggest companies has initiated three external investigations into alleged corruption and wrongdoing within the past four years, The Times has discovered. Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), a £10bn copper miner, is understood to have hired investigators for the most rec
Read moreEnterprise bosses add to stakes
5th Aug 2011 13:59
Four senior board members at pub group Enterprise Inns have been buying stakes in the pub group following the company's trading update. Company chairman Hubert Reid, purchased 55,000 shares bringing his total to 300,000, equal to 0.06% of the group's shares, while chief executive Ted Tuppen bought
Read moreLondon close: Footsie plummets to 5,393
4th Aug 2011 16:29
Hefty losses from large-cap equities dragged the Footsie over 3.43% lower on Thursday, a day after the blue chip index hit its lowest levels in 2011. Moderate falls turned into steep declines as the sell-off accelerated in the afternoon period, on the back of a bad start on Wall Street, which saw th
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Barclays, Centamin Egypt, Cookson...
3rd Aug 2011 06:46
On the face of it, Barclays' interim figures were reassuring. Strip out the £1 billion insurance mis-selling bill and the absurd distraction caused by own-debt valuation, and the bank produced a respectable 24 per cent improvement in profits. Like all banks, Barclays faces serious headwinds from adv
Read moreBroker snap: Citi labels Barclays as 'buy/medium risk'
2nd Aug 2011 15:55
Citi has rated banking giant Barclays with a buy rating after its first half results revealed that second quarter underlying pre-tax profits came in ahead of expectations. For the three months ended 30 June, the lender reported an underlying pre-tax profit (excluding fair value of own debt and Paym
Read moreSector movers: Metals/mining stocks lower on economic concerns
2nd Aug 2011 13:48
The metals and mining sectors were unwanted on Tuesday on fears over the global economic recovery. Despite the successful passage through the US House of Representatives of the budget deficit reduction bill last night, many have pointed to recent disappointing global manufacturing data and the ongo
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Fresnillo sparkles
2nd Aug 2011 12:23
Soaring precious metals prices boosted both profits and the share price at Mexican silver and gold miner Fresnillo. Total revenue rose to $1.056bn (£644.5m) from $605.7m the previous year in the six months to 30 June, while earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to $
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