Monday newspaper round-up: Barclays, Cocoa, Centrica...
24th Jan 2011 06:42
Bob Diamond will stamp his authority on Barclays next month, when the incoming chief executive announces a radical overhaul of the way it pays its top bankers. According to people close to the plans, Mr Diamond aims to use innovative bonds - so-called contingent convertibles, or cocos - to pay a la
Read moreProject Merlin progress stalls
23rd Jan 2011 14:29
Talks between the UK's big banks and the government over the amount they will lend to small businesses have stalled, according to reports over the weekend. Project Merlin, as the plan is known, had been tipped to be unveiled possibly as early as Monday, but last minute hitches mean an agreement may
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 dives in late trading
19th Jan 2011 16:40
What started as a sluggish day turned into a bit of a bloodbath with the top share index plummeting ahead of the close. Stocks fell in the US after bank Goldman Sachs' net earnings slumped 38% in 2010 due to a substantial fall in profit in the final quarter Here, publishing giant Pearson was the t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses trimmed
19th Jan 2011 14:05
Share prices picked up a tad over the lunch time period, but fallers still outnumber risers by more than two to one among FTSE 100 constituents. Publishing giant Pearson is the top blue-chip performer after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major busi
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 falls back despite cheery updates
19th Jan 2011 12:01
The top share index is still in the red despite well-received company updates, with downbeat news from the retail sector weighing on sentiment. Publishing giant Pearson leads the pack after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major businesses sustained
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips flat
19th Jan 2011 08:46
London has made a flat start as investors mull over a stack of results and trading updates. Publishing giant Pearson leads the pack after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major businesses sustained their strong trading momentum throughout last year.
Read moreLondon close: Shares buoyant as updates impress
18th Jan 2011 16:42
The top share index closed near its highs, helped in part by well-received company updates. Burberry was in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group, with revenue up by 30% and profits now set to hit the top
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains get trimmed
18th Jan 2011 14:35
Share prices came off the boil over the lunch time session though Footsie remains firmly in the red, as things continue to look rosier in the eurozone. Burberry is in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group
Read moreBarclays lands record fine for fund mis-selling
18th Jan 2011 10:53
Barclays Bank has been fined £7.7m and will have to make redress of £60m to customers after "very serious" mis-selling of two investment funds. The Financial Services Authority says it is the largest fine it has ever imposed for retail failings. "The fine reflects Barclays' position as one of the
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: BRICs, Inflation, GlaxoSmithKline...
18th Jan 2011 06:33
Goldman Sachs has issued a short-term alert on China and India as inflation rears its ugly head, advising clients to rotate into Wall Street and Old World bourses as a safer bet over coming months. "We're not as tactically positive on the BRICs as we have been," said Tim Moe, the bank's chief Asia-
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: BP, Smith & Nephew, Interest rates...
16th Jan 2011 10:58
Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has promised to give BP "the most favourable tax treatment" in the Arctic as its £10bn deal with the Kremlin was greeted with cautious optimism by investors yesterday. Late on Friday night, BP agreed to issue £5bn of shares to Russian state-backed oil compa
Read moreSector movers: Banks wanted as eurozone fears ease
12th Jan 2011 15:25
The banking sector is performing well Wednesday as eurozone debt contagion fears recede. HSBC is the best performing financial, helped by a "buy" recommendation from Barclays Capital, but fellow banks Standard Chartered and Barclays are also wanted. The sector responded positively to the outcome o
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: J Sainsbury, Oil exploration, Bob Diamond...
12th Jan 2011 06:37
J Sainsbury has overtaken Asda as Britain's second-largest supermarket, seven years after it lost the position. Industry figures yesterday revealed that a strong Christmas performance by the London-based grocer enabled it to overtake its Leeds rival, capping a dismal 2010 for Asda. Sainsbury's sha
Read moreLondon close: Strong gains for FTSE 100
11th Jan 2011 16:51
Share prices edged back from earlier highs ahead of the close, but still finished with good gains as fears over European sovereign debt contagion recede in the wake of a show of support for eurozone bond issues from Japan. It has been a good day for banks, with Societe Generale issuing a bullish no
Read moreLondon afternoon: Good day for bankers
11th Jan 2011 14:11
Share prices levelled out over the lunch time session, but investors remain in good heart as fears over European sovereign debt contagion recede in the wake of a show of support for eurozone bond issues from Japan. It has been a good day for banks, with Societe Generale issuing a bullish note on th
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