London close: Stocks fall as nervousness sets in
28th Jan 2011 16:51
Shares were nursing big losses by the end of the day as more gloomy economic figures stoked nervousness. Consumer stocks were under the cosh after UK consumer confidence in January slumped in January, as the VAT rise kicked in. Insipid weekly trading figures from department store group John Lewis h
Read moreLondon afternoon: Confidence blow for equities
28th Jan 2011 14:50
Leading shares are lower, with consumer stocks under the cosh after UK consumer confidence in January slumped in January, as the VAT rise kicked in. Insipid weekly trading figures from department store group John Lewis have not helped sentiment. The GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index dropped eight p
Read moreLondon close: Late recovery not enough
14th Jan 2011 16:39
Shares came off their lows ahead of the close, helped by an improvement on Wall Street, but still finished in the red, with miners among the fallers. The sector was hurt by speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The economic powerhouse has lifted reserve
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Strong end to the year for Spectris
14th Jan 2011 16:13
Instrumentation and controls specialist Spectris had a cracking final two months of 2010, with operating profits higher than expected. The Test and Measurement business stood out during November and December, contributing "substantially" to the improvement, although all four divisions exceeded tar
Read moreLondon afternoon: Deficit narrows
14th Jan 2011 15:15
A recovery on Wall Street has helped London narrow losses, although the leading index is in danger of ending the week below 6,000. Miners are still lower amid speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The economic powerhouse has lifted reserve requirements
Read moreBroker tips: Bovis, Spectris, Dixons
14th Jan 2011 13:05
While Bovis Homes has beaten consensus for 2010, broker Peel Hunt says that "almost anything is better" in the housebuilding sector as the shares are too expensive in comparison to its peers. On Friday, the group stated that margins will be at least 7%, more than half a percentage point better than
Read moreBroker snap: Bovis shares too high
14th Jan 2011 12:46
While Bovis Homes has beaten consensus for 2010, broker Peel Hunt says that "almost anything is better" in the housebuilding sector as the shares are too expensive in comparison to its peers. On Friday, the group stated that margins will be at least 7%, more than half a percentage point better than
Read moreLondon midday: Mining retreat drags FTSE 100 lower
14th Jan 2011 12:11
FTSE 100 is now firmly in the red as miners retreat amid speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The east Asian economic powerhouse has lifted reserve requirements on banks, underlining its determination to deal with inflation. Meanwhile, an increase in
Read moreLondon open: Intel results give ARM a leg-up
14th Jan 2011 08:37
Leading shares are mixed at the outset leaving the blue-chip index barely changed. Sparkling results after the bell in New York yesterday from chip-maker Intel has whetted appetite for chip designer ARM Holdings. The stock smashes its way to another 52-week high and is up 40% over the last month.
Read moreLondon pre-open: Dull start in store
14th Jan 2011 07:32
UK equities are set to open slightly lower, though there has been some cheer provided by housebuilder Bovis Homes, which is se to resume dividend payments after a strong performance in 2010. Bovis Homes predicts profits for 2010 will beat consensus estimates. A "significant" improvement in profits
Read moreBovis revives divi as profits beat consensus
14th Jan 2011 07:03
Bovis Homes predicts profits for 2010 will beat consensus estimates, good enough for the housebuilder to begin paying dividends again. A "significant" improvement in profits to more than £16.3m has been driven by a 5% increase in the number of legally completed homes to 1,901 at an average sale pri
Read moreFriday preview: Bovis Homes, UK Producer Prices
13th Jan 2011 16:45
With the bulk of the Christmas trading updates from major retailers out of the way, Friday looks set to be a quiet day, with results from Bovis Homes likely to be the most keenly anticipated corporate update. The company moved back into the black last year and was still sounding cautiously optimist
Read moreLondon close: One-month high for Footsie
13th Dec 2010 16:33
More than £2bn of merger and acquisition activity got pulses racing in City dealing rooms, combining with strong miners and gains on Wall Street to send London to its highest in a month. Oilfield services group Wood Group is forking out $955m (£607m) for rival PSN, which it will merge with its prod
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Inmarsat, Bovis, Hiscox...
9th Nov 2010 06:40
Yesterday's third-quarter results from satellite group Inmarsat showed better than expected earnings as growth in aeronautical services, and an uptick in maritime services, boosting the bottom line. At 22 times forward earnings, Inmarsat's valuation has eased a little and the growth potential meri
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 slips back
8th Nov 2010 16:43
Shares were on balance slightly lower as trading closed, with investors continuing to pause for breath following the strong gains seen last week on the back of the renewal of quantitative easing in the US. Rolls-Royce was a late riser after the aero-engineer said it was making progress n its invest
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