London afternoon: Lloyds up as Daniels names exit date
20th Sep 2010 14:29
Stocks gave up a proportion of their gains over the lunch time session despite expectations of a firm start on Wall Street. Part-nationalised banking giant Lloyds Banking is holding up well after it was announced that chief executive Eric Daniels is to retire in a year's time. The move was not unex
Read moreLondon midday: US coast guard verdicts lifts BP
20th Sep 2010 12:09
Investors are in an optimistic frame of mind ahead of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting tomorrow. The 'glass half full' crowd are expecting the FOMC to announce further measures to revitalise the global economy. Barely a dozen Footsie constituents are in the red, an
Read moreLondon open: Bright start for blue chips
20th Sep 2010 08:37
UK blue chips have made good ground in early dealings with oil and mining groups in demand. BP is the top performer after the US coast guard signalled that the oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico has been permanently sealed. US authorities described the leak from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexic
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start indicated
20th Sep 2010 07:26
UK blue chips are expected to post modest gains early doors as Wall Street ended higher Friday. Futures prices indicate an initial gain of about 16 points for the FTSE 100, hoping to snap a three-day losing streak. BAE Systems has strengthened its position in the US counter-terrorism market with t
Read moreBP finally seals leaking Macondo well
19th Sep 2010 20:49
BP has finally capped the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico, US officials said Sunday. "Additional regulatory steps will be undertaken but we can now state definitively that the Macondo Well poses no continuing threat to the Gulf of Mexico," US official Admiral Thad Allen said. A relief well cut
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie goes flat
17th Sep 2010 14:45
The afternoon session has seen Footsie heading backwards and even dipping below last night's level at one stage, and with company news thin on the ground the temptation for traders to make an early start to the week-end must be high. Invensys has been usurped from its position as best performing bl
Read moreLondon midday: Prices come off the top
17th Sep 2010 12:27
Having enjoyed a brief foray above 5,600 Footsie has slipped back below that level as miners come off the top, though the index remains in positive territory on the day. Invensys leads the way overall after the engineer became the exclusive supplier of railway signalling to Chinese rolling stock ma
Read moreBP completes relief well
17th Sep 2010 09:15
Oil giant BP has finished work on a relief well in the Gulf of Mexico that will pave the way for the company to permanently seal the leaking Macondo well. The head of the relief well is situated about 100 feet from the Macondo well and intersects with it around 6,000 yards below the surface of the
Read moreLondon open: Footsie pushes higher
17th Sep 2010 09:00
After yesterday's sluggish performance London has more of a spring in its step today. Only three blue chips are down at present, with miners again going well after the late rally on Wall Street overnight. Vedanta and Kazakhmys are the sector stars this morning. Invensys leads the way overall after
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: BP, Aviva, Rok
16th Sep 2010 06:07
BP may abandon plans to drill for oil in deep water off the Shetland Islands amid continuing criticism of the company over its safety practices, Tony Hayward revealed last night. In one of his final public appearances as chief executive of the oil producer, Mr Hayward told the Commons Energy Select
Read moreLondon close: Lower close as rally falters
15th Sep 2010 16:35
Footsie closed a few points in the red Wednesday as a rally brought about by an improvement on Wall Street lost momentum. The US had a weak start following poorly-received manufacturing figures but sentiment recovered as trading progressed. Here, BP was lower in line with weaker oil prices, with t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Retailers provide some cheer
15th Sep 2010 14:29
Resource stocks remain a weight around Footsie's neck and have been joined over the lunch time session by banks, which are lower as the market ponders the implications of the Basel III banking guidelines. BP is lower in line with weaker oil prices, with the oil giant suffering more than its peers
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie hobbled by resource stocks
15th Sep 2010 11:58
Resource stocks are dragging London lower despite a good showing by retailers. Lower commodity prices are largely responsible for the sell off of commodity stocks, though legal battles also hover over a couple of stocks. BP is lower in line with weaker oil prices, with the oil giant suffering more
Read moreBP's North Sea record under scrutiny
15th Sep 2010 08:11
BP has been quick to calm fears about safety training in the North Sea by confirming completion of training and oil pollution emergency plans, according to the government. The oil giant's safety record had come under fresh scrutiny following publication of a letter from the Health and Safety Execut
Read moreWednesday paper round-up: BP, Lloyds Banking, Japan...
15th Sep 2010 06:32
BP was subject to an investigation in the North Sea which found new staff were not trained to "basic safety standards" - six months before its Gulf of Mexico accident. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began its inquiry after a complaint by a worker on the Clair rig off the Shetlands, near to w
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