Former Barclays executive sets up new bank
20th Jan 2014 07:31
Former Barclays executive Richard Davies is said to be setting up a new bank for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), according to Sky News on Monday. Davies, who was head of the UK operations in Barclays' corporate bank before resigning in November, has established OakNorth. OakNorth has se
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Vodafone, China GDP, Barclays
20th Jan 2014 07:20
Britain's biggest telecoms company has put its audit contract on the market for the first time in 26 years, as politicians at home and in Brussels ramp up the pressure on companies to break cosy ties with the firms that check their books. Vodafone, the second-biggest public company in Britain, has a
Read moreBroker snap: 'Sell' RBS ahead of next month's results, says Investec
17th Jan 2014 15:47
Investec has downgraded its rating for UK banking group Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) from 'hold' to 'sell', reminding investors of the rule: 'Never own RBS into the numbers!' "'Short RBS' may be a crowded trade but after a 19% one-month 'spike', we think it (once again) looks attractive," said Anal
Read moreLondon close: BSkyB leads markets higher after decent economic data
14th Jan 2014 16:31
- Markets at highest level since October 30th - UK inflation falls to BoE target - Eurozone industrial production, US retail sales beat forecasts - UBS highlights potential M&A at BSkyB techMARK 2,818.48 +0.54% FTSE 100 6,766.86 +0.14% FTSE 250 16,236.02 -0.12% Markets managed to finish in positiv
Read moreBasel Committee eases banks' leverage ratio
13th Jan 2014 16:40
On Sunday, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) lowered some of its requirements as regards the level of regulatory capital which lenders must hold, known as the 'leverage ratio.' That seems to have come in response - at least in part - to worries that too onerous regulations could excessive
Read moreLondon close: Morrison leads UK markets higher
13th Jan 2014 16:36
- FTSE 100 closes at highest since November 4th - Morrison gains on property sales rumours - Banks celebrate eased Basel rules - US Q4 earnings season in focus ahead of busy week techMARK 2,803.23 +0.05% FTSE 100 6,757.15 +0.26% FTSE 250 16,254.80 +0.39% After a choppy session, UK markets finished
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Morrison regains recent losses on dividend hopes
13th Jan 2014 15:17
Supermarket group Morrison was the top riser this afternoon as it continued to recover after a steep fall last week following a bigger-than-expected drop in like-for-like sales over Christmas. Broker Shore Capital said it expects activist investors to continue to show interest in Morrisons as report
Read moreBroker snap: Investec reaffirms buy recommendation on Barclays
13th Jan 2014 14:39
The weekend announcement by the Basel Committee of an apparent easing in lenders' regulatory capital requirements was positively received by analyst Ian Gordon at Investec. More specifically, it offers "further comfort around leverage ratio requirements," although, "the devil is in the detail," he
Read moreLondon midday: Markets little changed but banks rise
13th Jan 2014 11:40
- Banks rise as Basel eases capital rules - US earnings in focus this week - AMEC offers 1.9bn pounds for Foster Wheeler - US activist investors looking at Morrison, reports say techMARK 2,797.71 -0.15% FTSE 100 6,731.21 -0.13% FTSE 250 16,199.41 +0.05% UK stocks were swinging between gains and lo
Read moreLondon open: Banking stocks buoy markets early on
13th Jan 2014 08:21
- Markets still digesting US jobs data - Banks rise as Basel eases leverage-ratio rules - AMEC offers 1.9bn pounds for Foster Wheeler techMARK 2,799.90 -0.07% FTSE 100 6,753.20 +0.20% FTSE 250 16,223.65 +0.20% UK markets opened higher on Monday morning though gains were only slight as investors co
Read moreLondon close: Markets hold on to gains despite poor US jobs data
10th Jan 2014 16:42
- US jobs report misses forecasts by a mile - Fed now in focus on stimulus speculation - Tullow gains on Statoil rumours - Mining stocks track metals higher - Barclays boosts forecasts for UK and US GDP techMARK 2,801.83 +0.98% FTSE 100 6,739.94 +0.73% FTSE 250 16,191.73 +1.52% UK markets remained
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tullow jumps on bid speculation
10th Jan 2014 15:11
Tullow Oil was the top riser on speculation that it could be a takeover target. The bid speculation gave the oil stock a lift after rumours did the rounds yesterday that Norwegian group Statoil is considering an offer for the firm. Tullow also had a strong day yesterday after an upgrade from HSBC to
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&S shares recover despite Q3 miss
9th Jan 2014 15:26
Marks & Spencer shares were putting in a strong performance this afternoon, recovering somewhat after yesterday's third quarter miss. The stock was given a boost by Investec, which upgraded its rating from 'hold' to 'buy', saying that the business should now become cash generative given that the cur
Read moreLondon close: Markets slip ahead of central bank meetings, retailers fall
8th Jan 2014 17:09
- Retailers in focus after Sainsbury, Mothercare, Majestic updates - US ADP data increases taper speculation - Central banks watched ahead of policy meetings techMARK 2,781.64 -0.28% FTSE 100 6,721.78 -0.50% FTSE 250 16,001.74 -0.42% Heavy falls in the retail sector and cautiousness among investor
Read moreLondon midday: Markets fall as Sainsbury leads retailers lower
8th Jan 2014 11:30
- Updates from Sainsbury, Mothercare, Majestic fail to impress - Eurozone retail sales, German factory orders beat forecasts - US data, central banks in focus over coming days techMARK 2,783.91 -0.20% FTSE 100 6,725.52 -0.44% FTSE 250 16,043.77 -0.16% The FTSE 100 pulled back from a two-month high
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