Barclays signs up to Help to Buy
11th Oct 2013 15:46
Barclays on Friday said it has signed up to the UK government's Help to Buy mortgage scheme. It leaves customer-owned Nationwide as the only major lender that is yet to sign up to the programme, which provides aid to aspiring home buyers. Details of when Barclays will launch offers under the sche
Read moreRBS sends records to regulator in FX probe
10th Oct 2013 12:23
UK banking group Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has sent copies of instant messages from a former currency trader to the Financial Conduct Authority as part of a probe into a possible manipulation of the foreign exchange (FX) markets. The news comes in the wake of the LIBOR rate-setting scandal that
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rebound strongly from three-month low
10th Oct 2013 11:16
UK markets jumped strongly on Thursday morning following three straight days of losses as hopes build over a resolution to the political deadlock in Washington and the continuation of monetary stimulus by the Federal Reserve. After hitting a three-month low yesterday, the FTSE 100 rebounded strong
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on hopes over US deal, taper delay
10th Oct 2013 08:22
Stocks gained strongly on Thursday morning as signs of progress in Washington and hopes over a continuation of US monetary stimulus prompted bargain hunters to step in following three straight days of losses. The FTSE 100 set a fresh three-month low of 6,337.91 on Wednesday afternoon, its worst lev
Read moreJohn Laing Chairman subscribes for shares in firm's largest ever raising
9th Oct 2013 16:20
John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF) announced that two of its directors, Chairman Paul Lester and fellow board member Chris Spencer, had each subscribed for 20,000 newly issued shares in the group as part of its largest ever raising of new equity. The shares were priced at 111p, costing each of
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Vedanta hit by downgrade
9th Oct 2013 15:01
Vedanta Resources delivered record oil and gas production and a rise in the output of refined zinc, lead and silver in the second quarter. However, the stock was among the worst performers today after reportedly being downgraded by Morgan Stanley to 'underweight'. ARM Holdings also took a hit, trac
Read moreLondon midday: Markets pause at three-month low as UK data disappoints
9th Oct 2013 11:19
Disappointing UK production figures and the ongoing political deadlock in the US weighed on market sentiment on Wednesday morning, with the FTSE 100 subdued after hitting a three-month low the day before. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was trading broadly flat by midday, erasing earlier losses,
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
9th Oct 2013 07:57
Air Partner: Liberum Capital initiates with a target price of 555p and a buy recommendation. Alent: Credit Suisse moves target price from 420p to 430p and keeps an outperform rating. AZ Electronic Materials: Credit Suisse revises target price from 350p to 330p, while staying with its neutral ratin
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 at three-month low as IMF cuts global outlook
8th Oct 2013 16:39
Disappointing economic data and the ongoing US government shutdown sparked a sell-off on London's FTSE 100 on Tuesday, with the index falling to levels not seen in over three months. Meanwhile, as the budget impasse continues in Washington, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today cut its outloo
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
8th Oct 2013 11:39
Aviva: Alphavalue shifts target price from 366.70p to 366.20p downgrading from reduce to sell. Barclays: Credit Suisse reinitiates with a target price of 280p and a neutral recommendation. BHP Billiton: Alphavalue reduces target price from 1972.70p to 1732p downgrading from add to reduce. Chesnar
Read moreJaywing sells e-commerce arm Tryzens
7th Oct 2013 10:59
Jaywing's shares rose after completing the sale of its e-commerce arm Tryzens for 6m pounds. The UK digital communications company said the disposal will strengthen its balance sheet and allow for investments in areas of "greater strategic interest". The outstanding inter-company debt Tryzens owes
Read moreLondon open: M&S, Burberry lead FTSE 100 lower as US shutdown persists
7th Oct 2013 08:29
An ongoing government shutdown Stateside continued to weigh on market sentiment on Monday with London's FTSE 100 registering losses in morning trade. US lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on either the budget or the debt-ceiling over the weekend, heightening fears that the US could run out of t
Read moreLondon close: Markets in 'wait-and-see' mode as shutdown continues
4th Oct 2013 16:46
After fluctuating between gains and losses for most of the day, the FTSE 100 finished broadly flat on Friday as stocks struggled for direction. In the absence of economic news and ongoing political uncertainty in the States, markets remain in "wait-and-see mode", according Senior Market Analyst Mic
Read moreBroker tips: Barclays, GlaxoSmithKline, Tate & Lyle
4th Oct 2013 12:24
Investec has raised its recommendation for banking group Barclays from 'add' to 'buy' and retained its 300p target price despite what is expected to be a 'lacklustre' third-quarter report on October 30th. Analyst Ian Gordon said that the upgrade is due to a combination of: passing rights issues-rel
Read moreLondon midday: UK markets lack direction as US budget impasse persists
4th Oct 2013 11:31
After a slow start, the FTSE 100 had erased losses by midday on Friday but markets remain subdued as stocks struggle for direction in the absence of economic news and ongoing political uncertainty in the States. Since the partial shutdown of the US government has extended into its fourth day, gove
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