London 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
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays boosted by Morgan Stanley
16th Mar 2010 11:40
Bank giant Barclays is one of the best performers on a bullish note from Morgan Stanley, which has lifted its price target for the bank to 440p from 370p. The US broker estimates that investment bank arm Barclays Capital could make a £7bn profit in the next financial year. Cost cutting helped sec
Read moreTuesday paper round-up: Royal Bank of Scotland, British Airways, BAE Systems
16th Mar 2010 06:31
Royal Bank of Scotland is planning a vast balance sheet restructuring in an attempt to boost its capital strength and its standing with bond investors. The move could involve at least £10bn (€11bn) of the bank's £28bn of debt being bought back at a bought back at a premium to current prices. This w
Read moreLondon close: Footsie drifts lower
15th Mar 2010 16:36
A sluggish performance on Wall Street helped ensure Footsie finished firmly in the red after a mostly directionless day. Leading the mining sector down was Xstrata with rumours doing the rounds in the City that the Anglo-Swiss company is mulling a rights issue. Speculation is also hovering over Ved
Read moreLondon afternoon: Mixed views on banks
15th Mar 2010 14:33
Miners continue to be a drag on the blue-chip index as copper prices fall back, but the Footsie's decline remains a leisurely one. Leading the mining sector down is Xstrata with rumours doing the rounds in the City that the Anglo-Swiss company is mulling a rights issue. Speculation is also hovering
Read moreBroker snap: Sell the banks says Seymour
15th Mar 2010 12:38
Broker Seymour Pierce has written a bearish assessment of the prospects for UK banks, with sell ratings for Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays. The broker expects the banks will see more revenue disappointment before rebuilding their profitability and believes expectations for banking inco
Read moreMonday paper round-up: Barclays/Lehman, British Airways, Rio Tinto
15th Mar 2010 06:38
Further damaging revelations about the collapse of Lehman Brothers are being held up in the US courts by Barclays. A 2,200-page examiner's report into the collapse of the 158-year old institution, published last week, uncovered in forensic detail evidence that Lehman used "balance sheet manipulatio
Read moreLondon close: Footsie edges forward
12th Mar 2010 16:44
The leading share index limped higher to into the weekend only a few points ahead on the week. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays gained. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand. HSBC was the exception among the financials after Goldman Sachs reduced i
Read more