Broker snap: BT kept on 'hold'
17th May 2010 11:25
A move into profit at BT Group and a positive investor day has caused Standard & Poor's (S&P) to lift its target price on the telecoms giant, although there's "still some room for improvement". The broker maintained its 'hold' rating, but raised its target to 130p from 110p, "encouraged" by recent
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips make healthy gains
13th May 2010 16:33
London's top stocks rallied near the close to finish well up on the day as traders speculated on possible measures to cut the UK's debt burden. A VAT rise to 20% is a likely measure according to a group of economists questioned by the BBC. Justin King, chief executive of supermarket Sainsbury's,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still in the blue
13th May 2010 15:06
London's top stocks are easing down towards the close after a flat start on Wall Street and some calming down of the excitement over the plans of the new Conservative-Liberal government. The focus now is on just how they new government intends to get the UK's debt levels down, with a VAT rise to 20
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BT gain outweighs financials dip
13th May 2010 14:38
BT dominates the Footsie today as positive reaction to its figures sent the share price more than 10% higher. The reported pre-tax profit of £1.01bn in the year ended March 2010 compared with a loss of £244m last time. In the final quarter, the pre-tax profit was £251m compared to a loss of £1.31b
Read moreTechMARK movers: BT returns to profit
13th May 2010 13:32
BT is leading the TechMARK index upwards after it released its full year figures showing a return to profit in the fourth quarter. The reported pre-tax profit of £1.01bn in the year ended March 2010 compared with a loss of £244m last time. In the final quarter, the pre-tax profit was £251m compare
Read moreLondon midday: BT leads market higher
13th May 2010 12:07
London's top stocks are making good gains helped by BT's full-year numbers and a decent showing from the miners. BT is the strongest riser on news that telecoms giant returned to the black in the last quarter and the full year and reported a 6% rise in the dividend. Pre-tax profit hit £1.01bn in th
Read moreLondon open: FTSE posts early gains
13th May 2010 08:20
London's top stocks are on the rise in early dealings on Thursday, tracking triple-digit gains on Wall Street last night and a rally in Asia. Global markets appear more optimistic about Europe's ability to sort out the region's debt problems and the receding threat of a crisis spreading to the glo
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early strength predicted
13th May 2010 07:36
Triple-digit gains on Wall Street last night and a rally in Asia is just what the doctor ordered and should be enough to get the leading index back trading at levels not seen for over a week. City forecasters reckon the FTSE 100 will open about 46 points higher, near the 5,430 mark. It's not been t
Read moreBT back in the black
13th May 2010 07:00
Telecoms giant BT has returned to the black in the last quarter and the full year and reported a 6% dividend rise. The group posted a pre-tax profit of £1.01bn in the year ended 31 March compared with a loss of £244m last time. In the final quarter, the pre-tax profit came to £251m from a loss of £
Read moreTechMARK movers: BT rises ahead of results
11th May 2010 15:10
Telecoms giant BT is continuing its share price rise. This is the third day running the shares have risen in price as investors look ahead to its full year figures on Thursday. Analysts expect revenues to decline but a swing back into profit in the year to March 2010. Pre-tax profit of between £1b
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials fall back
11th May 2010 14:48
Banks and financials have lost a large chunk of yesterday's gains and they are dragging the FTSE 100 index downwards as investors start to worry about the prospects for the €750bn bailout agreed by European governments to prevent economic collapse in countries that use the euro. Royal Bank of Scotl
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips retreat as uncertainty returns
11th May 2010 08:40
Footsie has given back some of the strong gains posted yesterday on the back of the euro bail-out. Uncertainty over who will govern the UK is to blame but there are also growing doubts over the substance of the euro plan. A string of company announcements is helping to deflect attention away from
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Elections, BP, Prudential
9th May 2010 12:03
Intense negotiations between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were underway in Whitehall on Sunday, as both sides attempted to agree an outline power-sharing pact before the markets open on Monday morning. David Cameron, Conservative leader, has offered Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, cabinet
Read moreWeek Ahead:BoE rate decision, Centrica, BT, Sainsbury
7th May 2010 11:44
The Bank of England delayed the meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last week as it clashed with the date of the general election. The date was rescheduled to avoid any accusation of the MPC's decisions on interest rates and fiscal stimulus influencing the election result. The MPC is s
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Mervyn King, BP, Essar Energy
30th Apr 2010 06:33
The Governor of the Bank of England was at the centre of an electoral storm last night after saying that the austerity measures needed to tackle Britain's budget deficit would be so unpopular that whoever wins next week would not get back into government for a generation. Mervyn King's opinion, rev
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