London open: Stocks surge ahead of BoE, ECB meetings
5th Sep 2013 08:13
The FTSE 100 jumped strongly in early trading on Thursday as investor risk appetite increased ahead of policy decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) later on. The Bank of Japan meeting overnight was "a bit of a non-event", according to Market Analyst Craig Erla
Read moreLondon close: Markets jump on data, Syria delays
2nd Sep 2013 17:02
UK investors took advantage of low volumes on Monday to push the FTSE 100 nearly 1.5 per cent higher, with impressive manufacturing data and delays to potential action on Syria prompting a bullish mood. "After posting four negative weeks in succession today's market moves on the UK benchmark index
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Mining companies gain on rise in commodities
2nd Sep 2013 14:45
Mining company stocks, including Rio Tinto and Anglo American, surged as commodity prices rose and as reports showed manufacturing expanded in China, the Eurozone and the UK. Aberdeen Asset Management rallied after Numis Securities reiterated a 'buy' rating for the company's stock. WPP continued t
Read moreLondon open: Chinese PMI boosts miners, Vodafone jumps on Verizon talks
2nd Sep 2013 08:24
Delays to a potential military strike against Syria and some better-than-expected economic data from China gave stock markets a big boost in early trading on Monday. China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to the 51.0 point mark in August, according to the National Bure
Read moreLondon close: Markets extend losses after poor US data
30th Aug 2013 16:45
Moderate losses in early trading on Friday turned into a steep sell-off by the close as markets ended August in a cautious mood following a choppy week. A series of closely-watched economic indicators from the States prompted a negative reaction this afternoon, causing a weak start on Wall Street a
Read moreLondon close: Markets finish lower despite late rally
28th Aug 2013 17:05
Markets rallied in afternoon trade on Wednesday, helped by dovish remarks from Bank of England (BoE) Governor Mark Carney and a decent start on Wall Street, but stocks still finished in the red as escalating concerns about Syria continued to dampen sentiment. The FTSE 100 finished down 10.91 points
Read moreSector movers: Surging crude prices fuel gains for oil stocks
28th Aug 2013 14:52
Rising crude prices gave oil producers a boost on Wednesday as escalating tensions in Syria continue to fuel concerns over supplies in the Middle East. These fears have been heightened in recent days due to a possible US military intervention in Syria following last week's alleged chemical weapons
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall as oil rises on Syria turmoil
28th Aug 2013 11:27
Stock markets were once again hit by concerns over rising tensions between Syria and the West on Wednesday morning, as surging oil prices look to pose a threat to global economic growth. West Texas crude futures were trading at a two-year high of $112.24 a barrel this morning while Brent crude jump
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip as Syrian turmoil hits risk appetite
28th Aug 2013 08:21
The FTSE 100 dropped firmly into the red on Wednesday morning as escalating tensions between Syria and the West spurred a reduction in risk appetite amongst investors. UN weapons inspectors are expected to return to a site in Damascus near where the suspected chemical weapons attack happened last w
Read moreLondon close: Syrian crisis hits stocks despite upbeat economic data
27th Aug 2013 16:30
Data showing improving confidence in Germany and the States wasn't enough to lift markets on Tuesday as investor sentiment was rattled by escalating tensions between Syria and the West. Business confidence in Germany improved across the board in August as the Eurozone's largest economy continues to
Read moreSector movers: Petrofac lifts oil services as crude prices rise
27th Aug 2013 15:12
Oil services stocks were the best performers in London on Tuesday, helped by a confident outlook by sector giant Petrofac. Oil producers were also making decent gains as escalating tensions in the Middle East continued to push crude prices higher - Brent futures were trading at a six-month high toda
Read moreBP sues US government over contracts veto
14th Aug 2013 10:52
BP is suing the US government over claims the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blocked it from winning new contracts following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The oil company said EPA's ban affected 21 of its subsidiaries that had nothing to do with the Gulf of Mexico explosion that kille
Read moreSector movers: Shell dampens oil sector as earnings slump
1st Aug 2013 14:53
A cool reaction to second-quarter results from Royal Dutch Shell meant that the oil and gas sector was the worst performing category of the day on Thursday as the oil major's earnings sank sharply year-on-year. Shell's earnings, on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, dropped to $2.4bn from $6.0
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: RBS, Centrica, BP
1st Aug 2013 06:49
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is expected to appoint Ross McEwan as its new Chief Executive as soon as Thursday, The Telegraph reported. McEwan, a New Zealander who heads the taxpayer-backed lender's retail operations in the UK, is considered the leading candidate to take over from Stephen Hester, wh
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rally on US data as eyes turn to Fed
31st Jul 2013 16:39
After a cautious start, the FTSE 100 rallied strongly in afternoon trade following some strong economic data from the US, though markets pulled back slightly from their intraday highs by the close as investors awaited a key policy announcement from the Federal Reserve. London's benchmark index fini
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