Sunday newspaper round-up: Essar, Barclays, Rolls-Royce
16th Feb 2014 17:56
The billionaire Indian Ruia family will this week offer to buy back the part of Essar Energy it does not own for less than a fifth of what investors paid for shares four years ago, the Sunday Times said. The Ruias are working on the final touches of an offer that will be a blow to the London market
Read moreWhich? calls for shake-up of 'broken' energy market
14th Feb 2014 13:09
Consumer group Which? has labelled the UK energy market as "broken" and has called for radical reforms after it was found that nearly 5.6m customers complained about the so-called 'Big Six' energy providers last year. Which? has identified six "fixes" to improve the energy market for consumers, cal
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Centrica, Hyder Consulting
11th Feb 2014 07:40
Energy minister, Ed Davey, may have hit on something when he suggested that Centrica's business model should be analysed - although perhaps not exactly what he thought. The company's business model, which in essence piles a gas exploration and production (E&P) business atop a utility may have less m
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain after quiet session, Barclays rises
10th Feb 2014 16:31
- Stocks at highest level since January 24th - Markets awaiting Yellen, Draghi and Carney - Precious metal producers jump, Barclays gains ahead of FY results tomorrow - Energy companies come under criticism from MPs techMARK 2,806.76 +0.59% FTSE 100 6,591.55 +0.30% FTSE 250 15,910.72 +0.29% The UK
Read moreSector movers: Utilities feeling the heat after criticism from Energy Secretary
10th Feb 2014 13:12
Utilities stocks were under selling pressure on Monday after the UK Energy Secretary raised concerns about profit margins at the country's largest energy companies. Shares in British Gas owner Centrica were the hardest hit after Ed Davey ordered a regulatory probe into high household bills and sugg
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners gain, Barclays leads banks higher
10th Feb 2014 12:43
Mining stocks were among the best performers on the FTSE 100 on Monday with precious metal producers Fresnillo and Randgold rising strongly as gold and silver prices advanced. Barclays was making gains despite claims that confidential details of clients had been stolen and sold. Investors were also
Read moreLondon midday: Barclays gains, Centrica falls as markets hold steady
10th Feb 2014 11:37
- Markets pause at two-week high - Central bankers in focus ahead of speeches - Barclays gains despite data leak, profit guidance - Energy Secretary concerns with energy profit margins techMARK 2,792.81 +0.09% FTSE 100 6,567.75 -0.06% FTSE 250 15,877.62 +0.08% UK markets more or less unchanged by
Read moreCentrica falls after UK government says it could be broken up
10th Feb 2014 10:20
Shares in British Gas owner Centrica fell after the UK government ordered a probe into high household bills and suggested the company could be broken up. The stock was the highest faller in the FTSE 100 index in mid-morning trading after energy minister Ed Davey asked the competition authorities to
Read moreLondon open: Markets at two-week high as stocks edge up
10th Feb 2014 08:25
- FTSE 100 at highest since January 24th - Markets look ahead to speeches from central banker - Centrica feeling the heat after Energy Secretary claims techMARK 2,795.99 +0.20% FTSE 100 6,579.86 +0.12% FTSE 250 15,890.35 +0.16% UK stocks opened higher on Monday morning with the FTSE 100 trading at
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Barclays, BoE, Energy companies...
10th Feb 2014 07:23
Barclays is under scrutiny by regulators and could face a hefty fine after thousands of confidential customer files were stolen in a data breach described as catastrophic by an adviser to the business secretary, Vince Cable. The files, containing details on 2,000 individuals including their names, a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners lifted by Citigroup comments
16th Jan 2014 14:21
Mining stocks were performing well after Citigroup lifted its stance on the sector from 'neutral' to 'bullish', representing its first positive outlook for the industry in three years. The bank has labelled BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Glencore Xstrata as its "key picks" as it said that sentiment wil
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 breaks 6,800 to finish at eight-month high
15th Jan 2014 16:36
- Burberry jumps after Q3 growth beats forecasts - Anglo American gains after UBS upgrade - World Bank revises up growth forecasts - FTSE 100 at eight-month high; DAX hits new record techMARK 2,840.71 +0.79% FTSE 100 6,819.86 +0.78% FTSE 250 16,292.94 +0.35% Stocks finished strongly on Wednesday,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Hargreaves hit by changes under RDR
15th Jan 2014 14:56
Financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown plunged into the bottom spot today after it said that new rules under the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) would trim revenues by around 9m pounds and would reduce client charges by 8m pounds in the first 12 months and said it will need to gather approx
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 closing in on 6,800 as stocks gain
15th Jan 2014 12:04
- Burberry jumps after Q1 sales growth - Anglo American lifted by UBS upgrade - Credit Suisse prefers life insurers over P&Cs - World Bank raises 2014 growth forecasts techMARK 2,830.56 +0.43% FTSE 100 6,791.80 +0.37% FTSE 250 16,254.51 +0.11% Stocks rose to an eight-month high on Wednesday mornin
Read moreBroker snap: Barclays downgrades Centrica and SSE
15th Jan 2014 11:51
Predicting a cost squeeze regardless of the result of the next UK general election, Barclays has downgraded both Centrica and SSE to 'underweight'. In a research note, utilities analysts at the bank said a retail margin squeeze appeared to be inevitable, as declining consumption and other forecast
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