London open: Slow start for blue chips
15th Oct 2010 08:50
Footsie has made an unconvincing start to the day but has just about reversed the weaker trend seen at the death yesterday. Banks are going well and have recouped most of yesterday's losses. Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are all in demand this morning. HSBC is ready to step away fro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest gains expected
15th Oct 2010 07:31
City sources expect the FTSE 100 index to open in positive territory, some 10 points up from last night's close. It may not be a convincing start to the day but at least it reverses the weaker trend seen at the death yesterday. Resolution, the insurance sector consolidator run by entrepreneur Clive
Read moreGrowth quickens at Computacenter
15th Oct 2010 07:05
Information technology services firm Computacenter saw growth rates quicken in the third quarter. Revenue grew to £621m in the third quarter, up 13% on the year before or 16% on a constant currency basis. Like for like (LFL) growth, which excludes acquisitions and disposals, was 14%, or 17% on a c
Read moreTechMARK movers: Panmure preducts strong fourth quarter
5th Oct 2010 16:19
A note from Panmure Gordon this morning pointed out that technology shares had their best September since 1939. The sector has outperformed the FTSE All-Share by 6.55 over the past month but the broker expects further recovery in the fourth quarter, even though the UK government's spending review
Read moreTechMARK movers: Suitor stalks Biocompatibles
21st Sep 2010 12:32
Medical technology developer Biocompatibles International has been approached by a potential bidder. Biocompatibles is cash rich and it says that it should have £26m in the bank at the end of 2010. It has also moved into profit and expects to sustain profitability from now on. A profit of £1.5m is
Read moreLancaster's £4.05m SDL share sale
3rd Sep 2010 16:34
SDL International's chairman and chief executive has sold more than one-half of his stake in the content localisation technology company. Mark Lancaster sold 750,000 shares at 540p a share. This raised £4.05m. Lancaster says that he sold the shares in order to finance the purchase of a property. H
Read moreLondon close: Triple digit gains
13th Jul 2010 16:31
Footsie's gains exceeded the triple-digit level at trading's close after optimism engendered by an upbeat start to the US results season. Aluminium giant Alcoa posted profits ahead of expectations last night. Here, product testing company Intertek is benefitting from Merrill Lynch lifting its pric
Read moreLondon afternoon: Good start to US results season lifts UK
13th Jul 2010 14:30
Footsie has risen steadily throughout the day, riding a wave of optimism after aluminium giant Alcoa got the second quarter results season in the US off to a strong start, while Merrill Lynch further aided sentiment by talking down the chances of the global economy experiencing a double-dip recessio
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks kick on as inflation eases
13th Jul 2010 12:16
Inflation figures gave the London stock market a boost this morning and the Footsie ended the session close to its highest level for the day. Consumer price inflation (CPI) eased towards the Bank of England's target level of 2% in the year to June. helped by lower petrol prices. CPI annual inflati
Read moreMARKET TALK: Computacenter 1H In Line - Panmure
13th Jul 2010 09:07
0807 GMT [Dow Jones] Computacenter's (CCC.LN) 1H update is in line with the numbers and the operational narrative is more positive than Panmure Gordon had expected, the brokerage says. Reckons Computacenter is the "winner" from the UK's emergency budget, as the VAT (sales tax) hike from January 4 '1
Read moreComputacenter sees 10% hike in H1 profit
13th Jul 2010 08:42
IT services provider Computacenter said first half profit is expected to increase more than 10%, in line with management expectations. Revenue in the first half grew 7%, not including the effect of the sale of its trade distribution arm in October, while reported growth was 5%. "We have seen a pos
Read moreComputacenter 1H Group Profitability To Be In Excess Of 10%
13th Jul 2010 07:23
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Computacenter PLC (CCC.LN), an independent provider of IT infrastructure services, said Tuesday overall group profitability in the first half ended June 30 will be in excess of 10% ahead of the same period last year and in line with management expectations. MAIN FACTS: -G
Read moreTuesday preview: Burberry, Computacenter, inflation
12th Jul 2010 17:58
Luxury goods maker Burberry has been a fashion success story throughout the recession, as reflected by its shares, which are up 90% or so over the last year. On Tuesday it brings out a sales update for its first quarter, covering the April to June period. Nomura Securities and UBS are both predic
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Kier builds a lead
12th Jul 2010 13:34
Housebuilder and contractor Kier is ahead after saying full year underlying profit before tax will be towards the upper end of current market expectations and ahead of last year. The reduction in the Building Schools for the Future programme, announced by the new government, will not have a materia
Read moreTechMARK movers: Computacenter bounces back
7th Jul 2010 15:06
Following a steady decline over the past month the Computacenter share price is showing signs of recovery. Shares in the IT services provider are still 16% lower over the past month. This followed a strong performance earlier in the year. The shares are trading on around nine times prospective earn
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