FTSE 100 movers: Bank shares slump
25th May 2010 15:26
Concerns about the banking sector in the EU have hit Footsie and there are no risers today. The London Interbank Offered Rate has been rising because of worries about the health of the banking system. In Spain, regulators are plotting consolidation in the Spanish banking sector. Lloyds Banking,
Read moreLondon afternoon Markets in full-scale retreat
25th May 2010 14:35
Shares are in full-scale retreat around the World with the Dow over 250 points lower soon after the opening bell. London is lower by a similar amount in percentage terms, as concerns over a possible bail-out of Spain and growing military tensions between North and South Korea. Moves by Spanish reg
Read moreLondon midday: Prices bottom out
25th May 2010 12:02
The FTSE 100 dived below the 5,000 level in the first few minutes of trading and at one point in the morning session dipped briefly below 4,900 but prices have now stabilised. Though it is scant consolation, London is not alone in shifting violently into reverse gear, as increasing fears about a p
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie under pressure amid debt worries
14th May 2010 10:40
Shares are firmly in the red amid concerns that the European debt crisis has not been staved off and could hit company earnings. Consumer spending is likely to come under pressure as European governments - including the UK's - seek to address their difficult debt positions following the economic cr
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
14th May 2010 08:44
London's top stocks have turned down after the late gains yesterday with banks again under pressure on concerns over the plans of the new government to curb their activities. Reports that the EU is to push through controversial new hedge fund regulations next week have also cast a cloud over the fi
Read moreCommission to press ahead with PPI ban
14th May 2010 08:18
The Competition Commission is to push ahead with a ban on the sale of payment protection insurance (PPI) alongside credit cards and personal loans. PPI is most often sold when a consumer takes out credit and the watchdog says that selling insurance at this point-of-sale gives the PPI supplier an u
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips make healthy gains
13th May 2010 16:33
London's top stocks rallied near the close to finish well up on the day as traders speculated on possible measures to cut the UK's debt burden. A VAT rise to 20% is a likely measure according to a group of economists questioned by the BBC. Justin King, chief executive of supermarket Sainsbury's,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still in the blue
13th May 2010 15:06
London's top stocks are easing down towards the close after a flat start on Wall Street and some calming down of the excitement over the plans of the new Conservative-Liberal government. The focus now is on just how they new government intends to get the UK's debt levels down, with a VAT rise to 20
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BT gain outweighs financials dip
13th May 2010 14:38
BT dominates the Footsie today as positive reaction to its figures sent the share price more than 10% higher. The reported pre-tax profit of £1.01bn in the year ended March 2010 compared with a loss of £244m last time. In the final quarter, the pre-tax profit was £251m compared to a loss of £1.31b
Read moreLondon midday: BT leads market higher
13th May 2010 12:07
London's top stocks are making good gains helped by BT's full-year numbers and a decent showing from the miners. BT is the strongest riser on news that telecoms giant returned to the black in the last quarter and the full year and reported a 6% rise in the dividend. Pre-tax profit hit £1.01bn in th
Read moreLondon close: Deficit narrows
11th May 2010 16:34
Losses halved during the afternoon session as it looked increasingly likely the Liberal Democrats will jump into bed with the Conservative party and form a coalition government. Buyers nibbled at weak miners and banks, down sharply earlier on doubts about the €750bn Eurozone bailout plan. Kazakhmy
Read moreLondon afternoon: Political indecision weighs
11th May 2010 15:33
With still no decision on who's running the country and Wall Street deep in the red, London's FTSE 100 is nursing triple digit losses. Concerns about the €750bn bailout agreed by European governments to prevent economic collapse in the Eurozone also continue to weigh. Banks remain among the worst
Read moreSector movers: Banks and miners on the back foot
11th May 2010 13:16
Banks are among the worst performers on a tough day for the markets, most notably part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland. The taxpayer-owned bank has agreed to pay the US government $500m to settle charges it conspired to violate the US Bank Secrecy Act. The Department of Justice said ABN Amro,
Read moreLondon midday: Shares drift lower on bail-out doubts
11th May 2010 12:16
The leading share index is posting triple-digit losses as nerves set in over the prospects for the €750bn bailout agreed by European governments to prevent economic collapse in countries that use the euro. Banks are among the worst performers, most notably part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland.
Read moreLondon close: Shares roar ahead after euro deal
10th May 2010 16:37
Markets were focused on the European debt crisis situation rather than the continuing political uncertainty here and, with European ministers having agreed a €720bn deal to prop up the euro, shares soared more than 200 points. Banks Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) all racked up do
Read more