FTSE 100 movers: Ex-div stocks provide a drag
1st Jun 2011 14:07
National Grid, Vodafone and Marks & Spencer were among the blue chips that went ex-dividend today, providing a drag over the lunchtime period. Mining giant Rio Tinto is trading higher after announcing today that it is to establish a large-scale presence in commodity-hungry China with the formation
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks seeking direction
1st Jun 2011 12:16
Stocks are uncertain which way to move after a rally that brought the top share index past the psychologically important 6,000 point barrier yesterday. Rio Tinto is doing its bit to keep the FTSE 100 close to that level. The mining giant announced today that it is to establish a large-scale presenc
Read moreLondon open: Footsie slips into red in early trading
1st Jun 2011 08:29
The Footsie has opened up in the red, with ex-div stocks National Grid, Marks and Spencer and Vodafone providing an early drag. Plumber's merchant Wolseley has taken a hit after it saw like for like (LFL) revenue growth of 6% in its third quarter. This represents a slow-down from the LFL growth ra
Read moreLondon pre-open: Looking for direction
1st Jun 2011 07:39
Investors seem set to take a pause for breath after yesterday's solid gains, postponing a renewed assault on Footsie's 6,000 level. City traders expect the blue-chip index to open around 7 points lower at 5,983. Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton has scored a $580m victory against the tax
Read moreCarnival splashes out on big ship
1st Jun 2011 07:07
Cruise operator Carnival has placed an order for a massive 141,000-ton, 3,611-passenger cruise ship, set to be the largest in its P&O Cruises fleet. The firm announced on Wednesday that it has contracted with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to construct the as-yet-unnamed ship. It is scheduled to e
Read moreLondon close: Late rally falls short
12th May 2011 16:58
Shares clawed back some of their losses ahead of the close but still finished firmly in the red as miners sank in line with commodity prices. Metals prices were on the decline amid monetary tightening in China, hurting mining stocks such as Fresnillo, Vedanta Resrouces and Kazakhmys. Lower oil pric
Read moreLondon close: Another day of big losses for FTSE 100
5th May 2011 16:51
Stocks fell sharply having started the day well, with banks and miners among the heaviest fallers. First quarter profits fell sharply at part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking, which closed down 8% today, as the bank took an impairment charge that was half a billion pounds larger than it was expec
Read moreLondon close: Shares slump as worries resurface
12th Apr 2011 16:38
The top share index's losses were almost in the triple digits by the close of trade after a steady day of losses amid worries over global economic growth. The IMF lowered its US 2011 GDP growth forecast by -0.2 percentage points, to 2.8%. Nor did Britain emerge unscathed. The IMF revised down its
Read moreLondon afternoon: More losses after weak US start
12th Apr 2011 15:31
The top share index has run into further selling after a poor start on Wall Street. Worries over global growth have re-emerged. The IMF lowered its US 2011 GDP growth forecast by -0.2 percentage points, to 2.8%. Nor did Britain emerge unscathed. The IMF revised down its growth expectations this y
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 slips below 6,000
12th Apr 2011 12:04
The top share index is back below 6,000 points as concerns over global economic growth weigh on sentiment. The IMF lowered its US 2011 GDP growth forecast by -0.2 percentage points, to 2.8%. Nor did Britain emerge unscathed. The IMF revised down its growth expectations this year from 2%to 1.7%. Me
Read moreLondon open: Global growth worries hit stocks
12th Apr 2011 08:22
Stocks are on the back foot after the International Monetary Fund slashed its growth forecasts for the US and amid renewed worries over Japan after its earthquake. The IMF lowered its US 2011 GDP growth forecast by -0.2 percentage points, to 2.8%. Nor did Britain emerge unscathed. The IMF revised
Read moreSector movers: Miners roar ahead as metals advance
8th Apr 2011 13:53
High commodity prices are sending stocks in both directions today. The mining sector has marched ahead as metals prices advance. Shares in Fresnillo, which mines for silver in Mexico, are the best performing in the FTSE 100. Silver hit $40 an ounce for the first time since 1980, while gold prices
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners dominate risers
8th Apr 2011 13:32
Surging commodity prices have helped the miners dominate the FTSE 100 risers, with seven out of top ten best performers coming from the sector. Shares in Fresnillo, which mines for silver in Mexico, are higher after silver hit $40 an ounce for the first time since 1980, while gold prices have hit r
Read moreOil hits two-and-a-half year highs
8th Apr 2011 11:41
Oil prices hit fresh two-and-a-half year highs in London amid continuing worries over supplies from Libya and as the dollar slid against other currencies. The rebels in Libya have accused government forces of attacking three different oil installations in the east of the country, halting production
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Ferrexpo, Carnival, Petropavlovsk
24th Mar 2011 06:34
If you think we've got problems, try living in Ukraine. Inflation was running at 21 per cent there last year, a headache for companies such as Ferrexpo, which mines iron ore and ships it by rail and barge to its customers, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe. The shares are on about seven times thi
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