London open: ICAP leads strong rise for Footsie
1st Feb 2012 08:23
The Footsie opened in positive territory, rising well above the 5,700 level, after better-than-expected Chinese data and rumours of progress in Greece lifting the mood early on. European markets have opened strongly as investors await Eurozone manufacturing data later this morning. The HSBC China m
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: BP, Argos, Stobart
1st Feb 2012 06:44
The Ministry of Defence will no longer give UK companies priority over their foreign competitors when buying equipment and weapons for the armed forces. The only exceptions will be cases where buying British is essential to maintaining national security, Peter Luff, the defence procurement minister,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: ARM soars on profit boost
31st Jan 2012 14:33
Chip designer ARM was the second highest riser after fourth quarter sales figures came in 10% ahead of consensus estimates. While Nomura maintained its neutral rating on the stock today, it acknowledged that the group's results indicated a "strong beat", driven by strong processor revenues in both l
Read moreLondon close: US data, Greek talks weigh on FTSE 100
27th Jan 2012 16:26
With economic growth in the world's largest economy surprising to the downside, miners and oil stocks were sold off on Friday, dragging the Footsie near to its lowest levels of the day by the close. Meanwhile, uncertainty in regards to debt-swap talks in Greece continued to weigh on investors' minds
Read moreSector movers: Transport sector moved by consolidation developments
27th Jan 2012 15:28
Consolidation among shipping brokers may be underway, after ACM Shipping Group confirmed it has received a bid approach. RS Platou, the private Norwegian ship and offshore broking company, is talking to ACM about an offer, probably at around the 175p per share level The Telecommunications sector i
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Next proves popular
27th Jan 2012 14:28
High street retailer Next was in the top spot, helped by AlphaValue which upgraded the stock from add to buy and lifted the price target from 3,467.6p to 3,481.1p. Following suit, Imperial Tobacco was in demand after Citi reiterated its buy rating on the cigarette-making giant. Meanwhile a downgr
Read moreLondon midday: Losses pared on talks of progress in Greece
27th Jan 2012 12:06
- Gains pared by midday. - Talks of progress in Greece. - BP falls after Transocean spat. After a sharp decline early on, losses were pared by lunchtime, with the FTSE 100 trading only slightly lower, as talks of progress in Greece helped lift sentiment. European markets on the whole are generall
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as Greek talks drag on
27th Jan 2012 08:20
UK stocks slipped in early trading on Friday, giving up some gains made yesterday on the back of the post-Fed rally, as focus again returns to Greece with talks over the debt swap continuing to weigh on investors' minds. Both sides taking part in the negotiations over the degree of private sector i
Read moreLondon pre-open: Moderate fall expected
27th Jan 2012 07:22
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down 27 points from yesterday's close of 5,795, following in the footsteps of US markets, which yesterday settled lower on poor economic data. Public sector services group Serco has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to provide training a
Read moreBP obliged to indemnify Transocean on some claims
27th Jan 2012 07:06
The dispute between integrated oil giant BP and oilfield services firm Transocean over the Gulf of Mexico oil rig tragedy rumbles on, after a US court ruling on Thursday offered judgements that both sides could claim as supporting their views. Transocean and BP had asked the court to rule on whethe
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: BP, Scottish energy, Coryton
24th Jan 2012 06:45
British and European Union officials are working to persuade the US Congress to exempt a BP project from new American sanctions aimed at stopping Iran's nuclear programme. The $20bn project in the Caspian Sea, called Shah Deniz II, is intended to reduce European dependence on Russian gas. It is bein
Read moreSector movers: Vodafone lifts telecoms, oil stocks drop
20th Jan 2012 17:07
Vodafone was lifting the mobile telecommunications sector higher today. The telecoms titan rose on reports that the Indian Supreme Court has overturned an earlier tax-ruling against it from a lower court. The long-running battle centres around a $2.5bn (£1.3bn) tax bill relating to its 67% intere
Read moreLondon close: Oil stocks weigh on FTSE 100
20th Jan 2012 17:03
- Oil stocks track prices lower. - Chinese manufacturing disappoints. - Greek talks ongoing, sides close to a deal. UK stocks finished Friday's session down an average 0.2% with oil stocks providing a drag on the FTSE 100, tracking oil prices lower. The blue chip index swung between gains and loss
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RBS up on news of ECB loan
20th Jan 2012 14:05
Shares in RBS rose on news the part-nationalised lender, which is 84% owned by taxpayers, last month borrowed emergency funds offered by the European Central Bank through its long-term refinancing operations (LTRO). It means that the lender can avoid the need to sell-off assets to meet heightened sh
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie unchanged, RBS leads risers
20th Jan 2012 11:57
- Greek talks still in progress. - RBS taps ECB emergency facility. - Vodafone up on Indian tax ruling. The Footsie was rather flat at midday, after swinging between gains and losses in the mid-morning session. Neverthess, the blue chip index was trading within a narrow range with just 26 points se
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