Sector movers: Lloyds leads banks lower after government share sale
26th Mar 2014 15:16
UK banking stocks were among the worst performers in London on Wednesday with state-backed lender Lloyds leading the decline after the government sold another tranche of its stake. The agency that oversees the taxpayers' stake in the bank, UK Financial Investments, reduced the Treasury's sharehold
Read moreLondon midday: Insurance stocks push markets higher, but banks fall
26th Mar 2014 11:42
- FTSE 100 at highest since March 11th - Insurers provide a lift, Standard Life and Phoenix in focus - Lloyds drops after government sale, RBS downgraded - ECB, PBoC stimulus hopes and US data drive gains techMARK 2,787.86 +0.51% FTSE 100 6,630.79 +0.39% FTSE 250 16,273.83 +0.75% UK stocks were at
Read moreLondon open: Stocks at two-week high, Standard Life jumps
26th Mar 2014 08:19
- FTSE 100 set for best close since March 12th - Markets track gains on US, Asian indices - Standard Life, Phoenix agree on Ignis deal - Lloyds drops after government sale techMARK 2,793.31 +0.70% FTSE 100 6,620.06 +0.23% FTSE 250 16,264.06 +0.69% UK stocks edged higher on Wednesday morning with m
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Asda, Ukraine, Bank levy
24th Mar 2014 07:27
Asda will today brief senior management on the results of the review carried out on behalf of the company by consultants McKinsey to equip it for the changing retail landscape. The details of the recommendations, which some have described as a new five-year plan, have not been made public yet. Howev
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Life insurers, energy companies, supermarkets
23rd Mar 2014 15:45
The chief executives of some of Britain's biggest life insurers have asked regulators to intervene after the Chancellor's announcement of dramatic changes to the pensions market, the Sunday Telegraph said. The insurance bosses have contacted the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulat
Read moreLondon open: Mining stocks provide a lift early on
21st Mar 2014 08:27
- Miners recover after recent slump - Obama imposes more sanctions on Russia - Markets await speeches from Fed officials techMARK 2,803.23 +0.11% FTSE 100 6,565.89 +0.36% FTSE 250 16,219.13 +0.01% UK equities opened slightly higher on Friday as decent gains in the mining sector lifted the resource
Read moreLondon close: Impact of Budget felt on FTSE
19th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 32 points at 6,573 - Focus on Budget, unemployment remains unchanged - Jan Eurozone construction output up by 1.5 per cent techMARK 2,818.76 +0.56% FTSE 100 6,573.13 -0.49% FTSE 250 16,338.84 -0.09% UK stocks finished today's busy session in the red as investors digested the Ch
Read moreBarclays to sell IPRS unit as part of investment bank overhaul
19th Mar 2014 12:49
- Index business could fetch 400m dollars - CME and MSCI have both made bids Shares in Barclays were given a lift by stories that the bank is weighing up the possible disposal of its Index, Portfolio and Risk Solutions (IPRS) unit, with two rival buyers mooted. Selling this unit of its investment
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Mar 2014 09:00
Afren: Canaccord Genuity lowers target price from 185p to 180p and stays with its buy recommendation. Antofagasta: Westhouse Securities reduces target price from 1060p to 985p staying with its buy recommendation. Credit Suisse downgrades from neutral to underperform with a target price of 750p. JP
Read moreBarclays awards top executives 32m pounds in shares
18th Mar 2014 14:00
Barclays has awarded its top executives nearly 32m pounds in shares, down 20 per cent on a year earlier. Head of Barclays Americas, Skip McGee, received the highest payout among the 12 executives with almost £9m worth of shares under bonus plans from prior years. However, it was well under the £
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Gold price pushes Fresnillo and Randgold higher
14th Mar 2014 14:52
A jump in the price of gold to a six-month high helped push Fresnillo and Randgold into positive territory today. The climb was being driven by events in Ukraine, as tension mount over its between the troubled country and neighbouring Russia. IMI also gained after Societe Generale increased its ta
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks extend losses ahead of Crimea referendum
14th Mar 2014 11:38
- Ukraine tensions rise ahead of Crimea vote - Analysts cut forecasts for China - Banking stocks mixed - US lifts ban on BP GoM contracts techMARK 2,765.64 -0.76% FTSE 100 6,529.08 -0.38% FTSE 250 16,062.45 -0.76% The FTSE 100 was registering losses for the sixth consecutive session as investors s
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2014 09:07
Barclays: Nomura reduces target price from 305p to 285p staying with its buy recommendation. Investec lowers target price from 305p to 295p and keeps its buy recommendation. Ferrexpo: Westhouse Securities increases target price from 190p to 220p and reiterates a buy recommendation. F&C Asset Manag
Read moreLondon open: Stocks down for sixth day on Ukraine, China fears
14th Mar 2014 08:32
- Ukraine crisis steps up a gear - Analysts cut forecasts for China - US lifts ban on BP GoM contracts - Financials gain, miners fall techMARK 2,757.98 -1.04% FTSE 100 6,525.28 -0.43% FTSE 250 16,032.04 -0.95% UK stocks were suffering losses again on Friday, falling for the sixth straight day, as
Read moreUK banks to boost profits in 2014 but face more charges, says S&P
13th Mar 2014 16:56
The UK's biggest banks are set to increase their profits this year, but financial hits from reforms linked to past scandals are likely to keep coming, according to a rating agency. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland are set to focus on improving returns and putting
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