London 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
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
30th Apr 2013 08:20
Aberdeeen Asset Management: Morgan Stanley raises target price from 478p to 548p retaining an overweight rating. Bank of America ups target price from 455p to 475p and leaves its neutral rating unchanged. JP Morgan increases target price from 532p to 573p and maintains an overweight rating. Citigrou
Read moreCentrica and QPI to jointly acquire natural gas assets
30th Apr 2013 07:41
FTSE 100-listed integrated energy company Centrica and Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), the international arm and wholly owned subsidiary of state-owned Qatar Petroleum (QP), have agreed to acquire jointly a package of producing conventional natural gas and crude oil assets for one billion Canad
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Life soars after beating analyst expectations
24th Apr 2013 15:09
Insurance giant Standard Life was a strong riser after beating analysts' predictions in the first quarter after delivering strong sales and group assets under administration. The group recorded a 24% increase in long-term savings sales to £6.3bn and a 26% increase in long-term savings net flows to
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
16th Apr 2013 07:33
Aberdeen Asset Management: Citigroup ups target price from 430p to 455p retaining a neutral rating. Associated British Foods: Credit Suisse moves target price from 1650p to 1850p, but downgrades from outperform to neutral. AZ Electronic Materials: Espirito Santo initiates with a target price of 40
Read moreLondon close: Stocks, commodities drop after Chinese slowdown
15th Apr 2013 17:04
Worries surrounding the global economy hammered equities worldwide on Monday after disappointing growth figures from China sparked a sell-off across commodity markets and the mining sector. A better-than-expected first-quarter earnings report from US bellwether Citigroup did little to lift sentimen
Read moreLondon midday: Chinese slowdown sinks miners and commodity prices
15th Apr 2013 11:21
A sell-off in the mining sector pulled the FTSE 100 over one per cent lower on Monday morning as disappointing growth figures from China and downgraded gold-price targets weighed on markets. China's first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth dropped from 7.9% in the prior quarter to 7.7%, wh
Read moreBroker tips: Gold miners, Centrica, Ladbrokes
15th Apr 2013 11:00
Citigroup has joined the growing list of brokers to cut their target prices for gold over the next few years. With declining margins at gold producers now a concern - as higher costs (and sustained capital expenditure) and lower prices take their toll - Citi has downgraded its rating for London-lis
Read moreBroker snap: Deutsche Bank not convinced by Centrica's oil and gas strategy
15th Apr 2013 10:32
Deutsche Bank has maintained its 'hold' rating and 340p target price for utilities group Centrica after the company announced the acquisition of oil and gas assets in Canada. The firm said that it is to buy, along with Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), certain assets in South and Central Alberta
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