London afternoon: Stocks lack direction
16th Dec 2009 14:30
Leading shares are mixed, with the Footsie dipping a toe into negative territory despite better than expected UK unemployment figures announced this morning. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell for the first time since February 2008 in November amid further signs the UK economy
Read moreLondon midday: Data gives blue chips a boost
16th Dec 2009 12:14
Footsie is maintaining most its early gains after some better-than-expected unemployment data. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell for the first time since February 2008 in November amid further signs the UK economy is beginning to recover from the economic downturn. The claim
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Citi builds up Redrow
16th Dec 2009 11:09
Redrow is leading the risers in the FTSE 250 after broker Citigroup raised its rating on the housebuilder to 'buy'. The broker thinks underlying sectors in the sector augur well for the future. Redrow's peer Barratt also upgraded to 'buy' is another strong riser. Drax is powering ahead. The power
Read moreGalliford Try chief exec builds up stake
11th Dec 2009 16:37
Greg Fitzgerald, chief executive of Galliford Try, has lifted his stake in the construction group. He took 13,490 shares at 296.5p a time, paying a total of about £40,000, and now has 585,008. Shares in the company have jumped by about 40% in the past year. Last week it announced its acquisitio
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Berkeley falls back
4th Dec 2009 13:36
Berkeley is the heaviest faller after fewer sales and lower prices sent profits at the London and south-east focused housebuilder tumbling in the latest six months. Housebuilder Bellway slips even after saying ales volumes for the first six months to 31 January 2010 will be 10% better than the same
Read moreLondon Stock Exchange chairman buys despite technical glitch
26th Nov 2009 16:38
London Stock Exchange chairman Chris Gibson-Smith decided to add to his stake on the day that the London Stock Exchange's trading facilities were unavailable for more than three hours. He spent just under £100,000 on shares at 769.85p a share. That takes his stake in the London Stock Exchange to 63,
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: ITV up as Norman appointment brightens picture
18th Nov 2009 13:14
Shares in ITV are higher after the troubled broadcaster confirmed the appointment of former Tory MP Archie Norman as its new non-executive Chairman. He will take up the role in January 2010, when current executive chairman Michael Grade, will stand down and John Cresswell will become interim chief
Read moreLondon close: Four-day rally is over
17th Nov 2009 16:31
The leading index finished near its worst levels of the session as weaker banks and mining heavyweights brought a 4-day winning streak to an end. The dollar's bounce off Monday's 15-month low hurt metal prices. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said last night that the Fed will conduct policy i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Inflation concern rears its head
17th Nov 2009 14:10
A rise in UK inflation has raised the prospect of an end to the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme and added to an already downbeat mood in the equity market. UK inflation increased for the first time in eight months in October following a rise in oil prices and a stronger pound. The C
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie still stuck lower
17th Nov 2009 12:11
Footsie remains a few points in the red despite some gains on the back of company updates. Inter dealer-broker ICAP is up despite interim profits falling as it added that trading activity had picked up in September. Telephone giant Cable & Wireless is top of the pile on news it is to demerge into
Read moreLondon open: Dull start for Footsie
17th Nov 2009 08:38
London has followed the lead of Asian markets and opened lower despite an overnight gain of over 130 points for the Dow. Telephone giant Cable & Wireless is the best performer. It is to demerge into two separately listed companies by next March and will raise £200m through a convertible bond issue
Read moreLondon pre-open: London set to pause for breath
17th Nov 2009 07:42
London is expected to follow the lead of Asian markets and open lower this morning, despite a strong showing overnight by US stocks. Traders expect the FTSE 100 index will open down around 20 points from last night's close. Telephone giant Cable & Wireless is to demerge into two separately listed
Read moreBarratt expects prices to rise 8-10% this year
17th Nov 2009 07:24
Housebuilder Barratt has confirmed the improvement in the UK housing market and forecasts its prices will have risen by up to 10% over the year helped by a higher proportion of houses in its sales mix. "Consistent with the re-planning and build programme, a shift in product mix towards a higher pro
Read moreLondon close: Good as gold
16th Nov 2009 16:56
Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared. Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sainsbury slides on sales leak
16th Nov 2009 14:31
After getting off to a flying start, the FTSE 100 index has drifted sideways since the middle of the morning. A larger part of the blue-chip index's gain is down to mining stocks, which are in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin leads the sector higher despite reporting a full-y
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