FTSE 250 movers: Pub groups fizz
24th Sep 2009 12:44
Shares in tenanted pub groups Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns are fizzing higher after Mitchells and Butlers, the owner of the O' Neills and All Bar One chain posted a healthy rise in sales. M&B's shares are lower though. Shares in Yell Group are down for the second day in a row after it announc
Read moreBroker tips: Pub groups, Barratt, Atkins
23rd Sep 2009 11:03
Swiss bank UBS has called time on a gaggle of big pub groups, claiming the share prices have risen too far on a heady cocktail of improving consumer sentiment, England's qualification for the World Cup and changes to the rules on pub gaming machine stakes and prizes. UBS reckons the share prices of
Read moreBovis to sell 10% of shares to fund land buys
3rd Sep 2009 08:18
Housebuilder Bovis said it plans to raise approximately £60m in the sale of 10% or around 12.1m ordinary shares to pay for land purchases. The announcement follows peers Berkeley and Taylor Wimpey who both raised cash through share placings earlier this year. In a company statement Bovis said, "
Read moreLondon open: Footsie starts flat
3rd Sep 2009 08:17
Footsie is flat in early deals with miners pushing the markets in one direction and financials and defensives dragging it the other. Amongst the major risers so far are miners Randgold Resources, Lonmin, Xstrata, Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo and Vedanta Resources. the big fallers are RSA Insuran
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish ahead
24th Aug 2009 16:23
London's leading shares have finished the day with comfortable gains as miners and banks stole the limelight. Mining giant Rio Tinto is reportedly in talks with the Aluminium Corporation of China (Chinalco) over co-operation in bauxite and alumina production. The Australian Financial Review newspap
Read moreLondon afternoon: Centrica claims victory
24th Aug 2009 14:33
The Footsie regained some of its momentum over the lunch-time session, helped by expectations of a firm start on Wall Street. Centrica is wanted after it declared victory in its battle to take over Venture Production. The British Gas owner bought another 8.4% of Venture shares this morning, taking
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie backs off from 4900
24th Aug 2009 12:06
London's blue-chips are off the top but still predominantly in the blue. Strong miners and financials helped push the FTSE 100 index above 4900 shortly before 11:00am but this just encouraged profit-takers to make their move. Advertising firm WPP was the morning's best performer ahead of results o
Read moreLondon open: Miners on the rise
24th Aug 2009 08:21
Miners are leading the way in early dealings on Monday, with silver miner Fresnillo the best performer. Fresnillo is up almost 3%, with Eurasian Natural Resources, Randgold Resources and BHP Billiton also going well. Oil services group Petrofac lifted its dividend for the six months to June 30 as
Read moreLondon pre-open: More gains expected
24th Aug 2009 07:48
Footsie is expected to build on its strong gains of last week in early dealings, heading ever closer to the 5,000 point mark. Oil services group Petrofac lifted its dividend for the six months to June 30 as revenues and profits rose in spite on the sharp drop in oil prices from the same period the
Read moreBovis profit down, 18% rise in completions
24th Aug 2009 07:24
Housebuilder Bovis saw profits drop sharply in the half year due to the adverse impact from significantly lower home sales prices, though private legal completions grew by 18%. Pre-exceptional profits before tax came to £1.2m in the six months ended 30 June, down from £11.7m in the first half last
Read moreLondon close: Footsie equals winning streak
27th Jul 2009 16:59
Though it was a close run thing the Footsie ended the day in the blue, equalling its record run of 11 successive days of rises. The blue-chip index was supported by a strong performance from miners and the part-nationalised banks. Lonmin was wanted after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "neutr
Read moreLondon afternoon: Winning streak in danger
27th Jul 2009 14:34
Footsie has dipped back into the red, with sentiment taking a knock from Wall Street's soft opening. Were the Footsie to finish higher today it would equal a record streak of 11 successive days of gains. Pearson remains the best performer on a much better than expected trading update. The publishin
Read moreLondon midday: Pearson beats expectations
27th Jul 2009 12:07
Strong mining stocks are supporting the Footsie's quest to achieve a record breaking 12th successive day of gains today. Lonmin leads the mining sector higher after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to "neutral" from "sell". Kazakhmys and Antofagasta are the next best performers. Pearson remains th
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes ahead
20th Jul 2009 16:41
London's top stocks remained in the same range and closed with good gains as financials and miners had a strong day. Wall Street starting higher also helped. Sentiment was lifted in the US after reports that lender CIT Group has obtained a last-minute emergency financing rescue deal worth $3bn. Ll
Read moreLondon afternoon: Strong US opening keeps Footsie ahead
20th Jul 2009 15:47
A strong start on Wall Street has kept Footsie in the blue though it has lost some of its early momentum. Lloyds Banking is the best performer on a weekend report it could post an interim profit despite enormous bad-debt provisions. Some of its most toxic sub-prime investments have clawed back bill
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