London open: Miners push Footsie higher
30th Mar 2010 08:55
London has started on a firm footing and is heading for its best month in decades with mining stocks in focus with BHP Billiton and Kazakhmys both making announcements. Mining giant BHP Billiton has successfully persuaded several of its iron ore customers in Asia to move to shorter term contracts.
Read moreRBS fined £29m for giving loan info to Barclays
30th Mar 2010 08:13
Royal Bank of Scotland has been fined £28.6m by the Office of Fair Trading after Barclays blew the whistle that information on loans to professional firms was passed between the two banks. RBS admitted the breaches of competition law between October 2007 and February or March 2008. The fine was red
Read moreMPs call for 'radical reform' of banking system
29th Mar 2010 09:46
MPs are calling for "radical reform" of the UK banking system to prevent taxpayers from picking up the bill next time a lender fails. The Treasury Select Committee, which said that the public would not stand for another bail-out of the banks, urged ministers not to rule out the break-up of institut
Read moreMonday paper round-up: Election, Royal Bank of Scotland, ITV
29th Mar 2010 06:34
The Conservatives will try to seize the electoral initiative today with a pledge to reverse part of Labour's national insurance rise due to come into effect next year. After several weeks in which the Tory poll lead has narrowed, George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, will announce that the party
Read moreLookers boss adds to stake
19th Mar 2010 16:49
Peter Jones, the chief executive of motor dealer Lookers, has added to his stake in the company. He has bought 300,000 shares at 59p each. Jones now owns 2.281m shares in Lookers, which is equivalent to 0.59% of the company. Jones bought 1.42m shares at 40p each in the company's placing and open
Read moreLondon close: Footsie comes off highs
19th Mar 2010 16:37
Footsie reached levels not seen since 2008 in afternoon dealings, but the gains dwindled after a poor start in the US and the leading share index finished just a few points in the blue. Banks led the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combin
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks drive Footsie to 21-month high
19th Mar 2010 15:33
Footsie hit a 21-month high as banks charged forward after Lloyds said it would be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010. Chief executive Eric Daniels said trading in the first 10 weeks of 2010 had been "strong", prompting UBS to lift is rating on Lloyds shares to 'buy' from 'neutral' w
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie at 21 month high
19th Mar 2010 14:08
Footsie marked time over the lunch time session after hitting levels in the morning session not seen since June 2008. Banks continue to lead the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Danie
Read moreLondon midday: Defensives left behind
19th Mar 2010 12:10
Risers outnumber fallers by around four to one among FTSE 100 constituents as the market continues to enjoy a sentiment boost from an impromptu and upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed
Read moreSector movers: Lloyds buoys banking sector
19th Mar 2010 10:52
Lloyds leads the banking sector after giving an impromptu and upbeat trading update ahead of a presentation at the Morgan Stanley european financials conference today. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed Friday. Daniels said trading
Read moreLondon open: Lloyds fires Footsie higher
19th Mar 2010 08:45
London's top stocks have started strongly after the Dow posted its eighth day of gains and Lloyds Banking predicted a profit this year. Part-nationalised lender Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed Friday. In a short statement ahead
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead decline
18th Mar 2010 08:26
London's top stocks have slipped back in early dealings on Thursday, with banks leading the index lower. Lloyds Banking, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland are the three worst performers on the Footsie, closely followed by HSBC. Bakery and sandwich chain Greggs saw full-year profits come in sligh
Read moreLondon close: Pension deal boosts BA
16th Mar 2010 17:03
After threatening to hit a new intra-day high the FTSE 100 index saw its advance checked in the final hour of trading as profit takers moved in ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates later today. Airline British Airways made a late surge to the top of the Footsie leaderboard as i
Read moreLondon afternoon: G4S locked out of market rally
16th Mar 2010 14:49
The Footsie stopped just short of dipping into negative territory over the lunchtime session before buyers moved back in just before 2pm. Banks and miners continue to provide many of the bright spots, with the latter benefitting from higher metal prices. In banking, Royal Bank of Scotland is want
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains trimmed
16th Mar 2010 12:03
The FTSE 100 was clinging on to positive territory at the start of the lunchtime session after share prices went into a late morning swoon. Banks and miners continue to provide most of the bright spots, with the latter benefitting from higher metal prices. In banking, Royal Bank of Scotland is wa
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