Sunday newspaper round-up: Ireland, United Utilities, Tesco
21st Nov 2010 11:51
The Irish government has been given a stark warning from some of the biggest American companies in Ireland on the risk of a mass exodus if the country's low corporation tax rate is raised. The warning - from executives at Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Intel - spo
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Ireland, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline
18th Nov 2010 06:31
The Irish Government finally signalled yesterday that it may bow to international pressure and accept a multibillion-pound bailout, amid divisions in the Commons over whether Britain should contribute. While the details of any package may be several days away, there were growing signs that Britain c
Read moreBP shuts gas field over Iran link
17th Nov 2010 12:00
BP has halted gas production at the Rhum field which it co-owns with Iran while the UK oil giant finds out if it's breaking European Union sanctions. The field, in the North Sea more than 200 miles from Aberdeen, is able to pump 212m cubic feet of gas a day from recoverable reserves of about 800bn
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers as M&A action heats up
15th Nov 2010 16:37
The top share index snapped out of a weak start to finish in positive territory Monday as jitters over the Irish debt situation eased and bid speculation and company updates attracted attention. Shares in Invensys moved higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid activity keeps the pot bubbling
15th Nov 2010 14:07
A sprinkling of bid speculation is livening up markets this Monday, as traders wait for the Irish sovereign debt situation to play itself out. Shares in Invensys are higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received an approach. The company's chief executive Ulf Henrik
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie back in the blue
15th Nov 2010 12:07
Footsie is in positive territory now after an impressive rally that has been mostly powered by miners, though there's takeover talk in the oil sector. Premier Oil is doing its bit for the mid-cap index, racing to a new all-time high on talk that state-controlled KNOC, the Koreans who recently paid
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull index lower
15th Nov 2010 08:43
Blue chips have opened lower despite some trading updates today, with miners the main drag on sentiment. BHP Billiton's decision to end its battle to buy Canada's Potash Corp for around $40bn and sweeten shareholders with a $4.2bn share buyback instead has not helped its share price. Earlier this
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small loss forecast
15th Nov 2010 07:37
Wall Street's failure to reclaim any lost ground Friday is expected to dampen the mood in London Monday. Futures prices point to an early 10-point decline for the FTSE 100 after the Dow Jones ended 90 lower in the US at the end of last week. Big news over here is BHP Billiton's decision to end its
Read moreBP gets $296m for African marketing businesses
15th Nov 2010 07:27
The trimming of the BP empire continued Monday morning with the oil giant completing the sale of five southern African marketing businesses. The company has agreed to sell its fuels marketing businesses in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia to Swiss company Puma Energy, a subsidiary of Trafigura Beheer.
Read moreLondon close: Footsie little changed
11th Nov 2010 16:44
Footsie closed little changed, which wasn't a bad result given a triple-digit loss for the Dow when it opened. Ireland was the story breaking as the trading day closed. Yields on benchmark Irish bonds rose to over 9% on reports that the EU might have step in and bail the country out. José Manuel
Read moreLondon afternoon: Financials drag index lower
11th Nov 2010 14:24
An early three-digit loss on Wall Street has the Footsie near its worst levels of the day, with financials the biggest fallers. Insurers Aviva, L&G and Standard Life are deep in the red, as are and RBS and Barclays on fears about Irish debt. Metal heavyweights are limiting the deficit though. Most
Read moreLondon midday: Mining advance fails to lift Footsie
11th Nov 2010 12:14
Big gains from mining companies have failed to haul Footsie into positive territory. The metals groups have marched higher from the off. Antofagasta, Kazakhmys, Xstrata, Fresnillo and Rio Tinto are in demand, as is oil major BP. Iron specialist Ferrexpo is the best performer. Cash is pouring in, o
Read moreLondon open: Small improvement for Footsie
11th Nov 2010 08:16
Blue chips started pretty much as expected, posting reasonable gains in response to yesterday's steady recovery on Wall Street, with commodity plays leading the pack. The Dow Jones was trading deep in the red when London shut up shop Wednesday, but shed nerves ahead of today's G20 meeting in Seoul
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Marks & Spencer, BP, Oil prices...
10th Nov 2010 06:39
Marc Bolland outlined a plan to steer Marks & Spencer out of the path of the big supermarket groups yesterday as he unveiled his three-year blueprint for the retailer. The Dutchman who took over as chief executive in May delivered his vision for restoring M&S to greatness in rigorous detail, focusi
Read moreLondon close: Footsie adds gains as results impress
9th Nov 2010 16:58
Footsie added more gains Tuesday as a stream of company updates was mostly well-received. Fund manager Schroders muscled its way to the top of the Footsie leaderboard, seeing off competition from several other heavy hitters that have made trading updates today. Profits rocketed at Schroders during
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