Sector movers: Telecoms updates impress
28th Jul 2011 16:10
BT and TalkTalk are both contributing to the fixed line telecommunications sector's gains today. BT reported today that its profits jumped by a fifth in the first quarter, as the phone and telecoms giant was able to achieve a majority market share in new broadband connections. Broadband provider T
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall back after news flurry
28th Jul 2011 12:00
Stocks are in the red after this morning's splurge of company updates. Anglo-Dutch integrated oil company Royal Dutch Shell fell after it reported net income on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, excluding specific items, of $6.6bn, compared to $4.2bn in the second quarter of last year. The fi
Read moreLondon open: Footsie opens lower after flurry of results
28th Jul 2011 08:34
After a flurry of company results this morning, the Footsie fell into the red. While investors digest the figures, in the back of their minds they are still fretting about the US debt ceiling negotiations, with the Republicans and Democrats set for a show-down later on today in the House of Represen
Read moreProfits jump 20% at BT
28th Jul 2011 08:27
BT's profits jumped by a fifth in the first quarter, as the phone and telecoms giant was able to achieve a majority market share in new broadband connections. Pre-tax profit jumped by 20% in the three months to 30 June, from £446m to £533m. Earnings per share rose by 18% to 5.2p. "We continue to m
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: BAE flies high after dividend boost
28th Jul 2011 08:23
Shares in BAE Systems were wanted after the firm boosted its interim dividend and announced a £500m share repurchase program. For the six months ended 30 June, the defence group reported a 13% drop in sales, saying that the fall was in line with expectations. Headline revenue was £9.2bn, compared
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Greece, Santander, UK banks
21st Jul 2011 06:27
Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy held crisis talks in Berlin amid warnings that a failure to break the debt crisis deadlock within 24 hours would send shockwaves around the global economy. Late on Wednesday night it was announced that both parties were close to a deal to bail out Greece, the Telegr
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Vedanta/Cairn, SFO, Paul Fisher, broadband spat
1st Jul 2011 06:04
India's Cabinet has finally given the go-ahead for London-listed mining company Vedanta Resources to take over Cairn Energy's prized India assets, nearly 11 months after the two companies first announced plans for the $9.6bn deal. However, New Delhi will require Cairn India's new owner to take on mo
Read moreBroker tips: BT, M&S, Rolls-Royce
24th May 2011 12:50
BT, the telecommunications titan, has had its rating upgraded by UBS after solid fourth quarter results. While underlying revenue declines matched previous quarters, the broker notes that underlying cost savings accelerated with strong savings in its core operations.Key performance indicators were
Read moreBroker snap: Solid fourth quarter for BT
24th May 2011 12:48
BT, the telecommunications titan, has had its rating upgraded by UBS after solid fourth quarter results. While underlying revenue declines matched previous quarters, the broker notes that underlying cost savings accelerated with strong savings in its core operations. Key performance indicators we
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 on the slide again
12th May 2011 08:26
Shares are firmly in the red again today, with miners on the slide in line with commodity markets and one or two trading updates setting traders' nerves on edge. Silver specialist Fresnillo leads the mining sector lower in the FTSE 100. Worries that China may further tighten monetary policy are hurt
Read moreUpbeat BT counts its cash
12th May 2011 07:56
Telecoms giant BT said its full year results are in line with or ahead of its outlook for the year. The phone and broadband provider saw revenue decline 4% to £20.08bn in the year to 31 March from £20.91bn a year earlier, but earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) imp
Read moreLondon pre-open: Miners to drag Footsie down
12th May 2011 07:48
With commodity prices in full retreat, the strong weighting of oils and miners in the Footsie index means the top share index is set to open sharply lower. City traders expect the blue-chip index to kick off more than 50 points lower. RSA Insurance hailed a strong start to the year with net writt
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Portugal bailout, BT, North Sea oil
4th May 2011 06:07
José Sócrates, Portugal's caretaker prime minister, said on Tuesday night that he has reached agreement on a bail-out from the EU and the International Monetary Fund. No figure was disclosed regarding the value of the loan. However, it is thought to be valued at around €78bn (£70bn), according to th
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: BT, Prudential, HSBC
21st Apr 2011 06:06
The Government could suspend the internet accounts of illegal downloaders after a challenge to new laws was overturned in the High Court. Justice Kenneth Parker rejected an appeal by BT and TalkTalk which claimed that the Digital Economy Act 2010 was seriously flawed and 'incompatible' with European
Read moreBT to accelerate pension deficit reduction
30th Mar 2011 08:16
Telecoms giant BT is feeling flushed enough to bring forward the next payment in its pension deficit reduction programme. BT has made a cash payment of £505m into the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) in place of the £525m due to have been paid in December 2011, a saving of £20m. In addition, the payment
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