London midday: FTSE 100 down one per cent as volatility continues
31st May 2013 11:26
The volatile trade seen over the past week continued on Friday with investors turning nervous ahead of another raft of economic indicators from the US later on. "European markets have taken a leg lower this morning as traders look to scale back risk heading into the month's end, with the central ba
Read moreLondon open: Markets down as traders await economic data
31st May 2013 08:21
Stocks sank sharply on Friday morning, continuing the volatile pattern seen over the past week, as traders cautiously awaited more economic figures from the States. Stocks gained slightly yesterday as a worse-than-expected second reading of US gross domestic product growth and a rise in jobless cla
Read moreLondon close: Stocks plummet as bond yields rise
29th May 2013 16:38
Financial markets erased yesterday's impressive gains on Wednesday as renewed concerns about the global economy hammered sentiment in London. "In an almost complete reversal of yesterday's price action the bears have reasserted themselves today, overturning the brief return to optimism as European
Read moreSector movers: Utilities drop as yield-hunters turn to US debt
29th May 2013 14:46
Every sector in London was either flat or in the red on Wednesday afternoon as concerns about the global economy - following downgrades to growth forecasts from the OECD - sparked a market-wide sell-off. The utilities sectors, which have put in an impressive performance in 2013 so far, were firmly
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 snaps eight-day winning streak as miners fall
14th May 2013 11:50
Strong gains in the utilities sector after a takeover approach for Severn Trent and some well-received results from Babcock International weren't enough to lift markets into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime, as the FTSE 100 snapped an eight-day winning streak. "The broader market malaise is
Read moreLondon open: Markets flat after strong run, but Severn Trent soars
14th May 2013 08:19
Strong gains for Severn Trent and other utility providers helped offset weakness elsewhere on Tuesday morning as the FTSE 100 paused for breath following an eight-day winning streak. "European markets moved forward modestly today shunning a mixed trading session in Asian stock markets overnight as
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Severn Trent, Lloyds, Vodafone...
14th May 2013 06:52
According to The Times, Severn Trent could be the target of a bid worth up to 5.3bn pounds. The utility company is said to be in talks with Canadian infrastructure investors Borealis and the Kuwait Investment Authoirty The Independent says that the new Chairman to replace Sir Win BIschoff at Lloyds
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks snap winning streak as Chinese data disappoints
13th May 2013 11:51
Disappointing economic data from China on Monday put an end to a seven-day winning streak in London which lifted the FTSE 100 to a five-and-a-half-year high last week. London's benchmark index reached a closing price of 6,625 on Friday afternoon, a level not seen since late 2007, meaning that it ha
Read moreLondon open: Markets pause after strong run last week
13th May 2013 08:48
Weakness in the financial sector meant that the FTSE 100 was in the red on Monday morning, with investors pausing for breath after the index reached fresh multi-year highs last week. London's benchmark index reached a closing price of 6,625 on Friday afternoon, a level not seen since late 2007, mea
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to edge lower in early trade
13th May 2013 07:32
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open down four points from Friday's close of 6,625, following the weekend's meeting of the G7 in the UK. In all it appears the leaders from the seven countries agreed it was wise to allow the Japanese yen continue on its path lower. On today's agenda, econo
Read moreCentrica sees full year in line
13th May 2013 07:05
Energy giant Centrica said it has performed well to date and expects full year earnings growth to be in line with market expectations as it starts its 500m pound share repurchase programme. FTSE 100-listed Centrica said trading has been buoyed by sustained cold weather and periods of higher commodi
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, ENRC, Ocado...
13th May 2013 06:44
Sir Win Bischoff, the Chairman of Lloyds since September 2009, is expected to announce his resignation ahead of Thursday's shareholder meeting as the bank readies for privatisation, reports The Guardian. The Financial Times says that May 17th is the deadline for a bidding consortium - made of a "tr
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Osborne, Ocado, M&S
12th May 2013 19:16
Energy giant Centrica is eyeing US gas assets jointly with Qatar as it gears up expansion across the Atlantic. The British Gas owner, which is likely to face questions on its growth plans at its Annual General Meeting in London on Monday, wants to build on last month's 650m pound joint deal for Cana
Read moreLondon close: Stocks fall as markets await Fed, ECB
30th Apr 2013 16:46
A disappointing reading of business activity in the States sparked a late sell-off on UK financial markets on Tuesday afternoon as traders turned nervous ahead some key risk events later this week. The Chicago purchasing managers' index (PMI), one of the leading economic indicators in the US, dropp
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds rises after Q1 results impress
30th Apr 2013 15:31
Markets gave a positive reaction to first-quarter results from banking giant Lloyds, with the stock rising sharply after profits came in slightly ahead of consensus estimates and the company reduced its full-year cost guidance. Sector peer RBS was also in demand ahead of its interim management sta
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