London close: Flat finish on eventful day
27th Apr 2011 16:56
Shares lost their puff ahead of the close having burst into life following a sluggish start, but there were some big movers in both directions, particularly in the mid-cap index. First quarter GDP data was the main talking point though growth of 0.5% was in line with expectations. On the company f
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aggreko leaps on full year guidance
27th Apr 2011 13:39
Temporary power supplier Aggreko has surged ahead after saying it expects its full year profits to be slightly ahead of 2010 after a strong start to the year. Airline IAG is firmly highly, continuing from strong gains made yesterday. Engineers GKN, IMI and Weir Group are also among the best perfo
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 bounces back
27th Apr 2011 12:05
Shares are slightly in the blue now, though the relatively calm performance overall belies some big share price movements in both directions following a stream of updates. Banking giant Barclays is lower after saw adjusted profit before tax rise 10% in the first quarter of 2011, despite a 15% slide
Read moreLondon open: Stocks move both ways after updates
27th Apr 2011 08:32
Shares have edged slightly lower in early dealings with some big name company updates getting a poor reception, though there are some significant risers. Banking giant Barclays is lower after saw adjusted profit before tax rise 10% in the first quarter of 2011, despite a 15% slide in top-line incom
Read moreLondon pre-open: Shares to edge slightly lower
27th Apr 2011 07:56
Shares are expected to open slightly lower as traders digest a raft of trading updates and await first quarter economic growth data later this morning. Controversial oil colossus BP saw its first quarter profit advance to $7,124m from $6,079m the year before. Replacement cost profit dipped to $5,48
Read moreBarclays maintains full year guidance
27th Apr 2011 07:23
Banking giant Barclays saw adjusted profit before tax rise 10% in the first quarter of 2011, despite a 15% slide in top-line income at Barclays Capital, its high profile investment banking arm. Adjusted profit before tax grew to £2,004m from £1,822m in the first quarter of 2010. Net operating incom
Read moreWednesday preview: BP, Barclays, Glaxo ...
26th Apr 2011 16:12
It is just over a year since the Gulf of Mexico Macondo oil well tragedy, an event that will continue to loom large over oil colossus BP when it announces its first quarter results on what is a busy Wednesday for company results. However, recent events in Russia are likely to be more to the forefro
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays
26th Apr 2011 06:31
Lloyds Banking Group, which is now 43% owned by the taxpayer, is reported to be considering a sale of its pensions and insurance business Scottish Widows. The group's new chief executive, Antonio Horta-Osorio, is said to be poised to offload the subsidiary, possibly together with the bank's 60 per c
Read moreWeek Ahead: Barclays, ARM, AB Foods
21st Apr 2011 09:03
Some big guns are due to make trading updates next week including heavy hitters from the banking, pharma and oils sectors, such as Barclays, Lloyds, Glaxo, Astra, Shire, BP and Royal Dutch Shell. On Wednesday banking giant Barclays gives an interim management statement covering the first quarter of
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Resolution unwanted after downgrade
18th Apr 2011 13:43
Insurance giant Resolution is the worst performer on the FTSE 100, after being downgraded from 'buy' to 'neutral' by UBS. The broker cuts its rating given the weak operational performance, mixed valuation picture and strong recent share price performance. The share price is left at 300p. Also lowe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banking shares head south
15th Apr 2011 12:37
The banking sector is heading lower today as sentiment sours after credit rating agency Moody's cut its rating for Ireland's sovereign debt by two levels to Baa3 from Baa1, while retaining its negative outlook. RBS, Lloyds and Barclays are among the worst performers. Also in the red are the blue ch
Read moreLondon midday: Banks dull after Ireland downgrade
15th Apr 2011 12:02
The top share index failed to regain the 6,000 level in the morning, but came close before subsiding just before midday. Banks are dragging the index lower, offsetting good gains among property companies. Banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Barclays are off the pace as sentiment sour
Read moreBroker snap: ICB report not as bad as it could have been
12th Apr 2011 12:47
The report issued by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) could have been worse, according to Credit Suisse. "While the commission is considering ring-fencing retail banking operations, it appears open to the idea that the business can still exist as part of a wider group, effectively ruling
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish despite banks' advance
11th Apr 2011 16:54
The top share index was seeking direction all day Monday even as banks advanced following the publication of changes proposed for the sector by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB). While Lloyds Banking had a grumble about the ICB's recommendation that it should have to sell more than 600 br
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks firmer after ICB report
11th Apr 2011 15:02
The banking sector is performing well today after a report from the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB). The ICB stopped short of recommending that banks that have investment banking arms should demerge those operations. Instead, it has recommended that banks' retail operations should be protec
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