Tuesday newspaper round-up: Microsoft/Skype, Greece, renewables
10th May 2011 06:09
Microsoft is in advanced discussions about purchasing Skype, the internet telephone company, a person close to the company said, in what would be one of the US technology company's largest deals as it seeks to revitalise its business. A deal between the two companies could be announced as early as T
Read moreLondon close: Lower finish for FTSE 100
9th May 2011 16:44
The top share index closed in the red despite a bright start to the day, continuing the volatile performance seen last week. Energy supplier Centrica is a struggler after saying it expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regime on UK oil pro
Read moreSector movers: Centrica dampens utility stocks
9th May 2011 14:07
Centrica is providing a drag in the gas, water and multiutilities sector, the worst performing sector of the day. The energy group is currently the heaviest faller on the FTSE 100 after it said it expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regim
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Inmarsat rises, banks fall
9th May 2011 13:32
Satellite communications giant Inmarsat is topping the risers after first quarter revenue rose by 15% boosted by payments from its agreement with US telecom group LightSquared. The banking sector is under the weather: Barclays' shares fell after it reported that it is setting aside £1bn to cover t
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 lower on volatile day
9th May 2011 12:07
The FTSE 100 is in the red after giving up an early recovery on what is turning out to be another choppy day for the top share index. Energy supplier Centrica is a struggler after saying it expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regime on UK
Read moreLondon open: Stocks give up gains
9th May 2011 08:28
Stocks have fallen back after Friday's surge, with company updates sending shares in both directions. Energy supplier Centrica is an early struggler after saying it expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regime on UK oil production. The incr
Read moreLondon pre-open: Profit takers hold sway
9th May 2011 07:39
After Friday afternoon's surge on the back of better than expected US jobless data investors looks set to be quick to bank profits at the start of the new week. City traders expect London's blue-chip index to open almost 30 points lower at around 5,947. Energy supplier Centrica expects profits grow
Read moreNew North Sea oil taxes to hit Centrica
9th May 2011 07:06
Energy supplier Centrica expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regime on UK oil production. Centrica, which operates British Gas and also has oil and gas production operations, says the increase in the Supplementary Charge (SCT) rate from 2
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars past 6,000
1st Apr 2011 16:38
Shares have moved back above the 6,000 point mark as economic data from the US stoked optimism. Private non-farm payrolls rose by 216,000 in March, versus consensus expectations for a 190,000 person increase. Also, the unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, to 8.8% (Consensus: 8.9%). Average hourly e
Read moreLondon afternoon: US jobs data provides fresh impetus
1st Apr 2011 14:28
The release of generally favourable US non-farm payrolls data has given London shares fresh impetus. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI fell unexpectedly to 57.1 points, against consensus expectations f
Read moreLondon midday: Shares rise ahead of US jobs data.
1st Apr 2011 12:03
Shares have added to their early gains on hopes that jobs data from the US later today will fuel global economic optimism. Non-farm payroll numbers are due at 1.30pm. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI
Read moreLondon open: Shares win back gains
1st Apr 2011 08:34
Shares have got off to a decent start, clawing back some of the gains that came in late trading yesterday. Banks, which had been awaiting yesterday afternoon's banking stress test results nervously, are leading the way today, with Barclays, Lloyds and RBS posting good gains. In other news, Marks
Read moreLondon pre-open: Quiet start ahead of US jobs data
1st Apr 2011 07:37
After going into a late dive yesterday following the publication of the Irish banking stress tests London's leading shares are set to claw back some of those losses at the outset, though trading is likely to be low in the absence of signficant company news and ahead of this afternoon's March jobless
Read moreCentrica boosts upstream assets
1st Apr 2011 07:15
The North American spending spree of British Gas owner Centrica shows no sign of abating, with the company snapping up some Canadian gas assets. Centrica's North American subsidiary, Direct Energy, is paying C$47m (£30m) in cash to Shell Canada Energy for some natural gas assets located in the Wild
Read moreNorth Sea tax hike deters explorers
30th Mar 2011 14:08
Norwegian oil giant Statoil has stopped work on two projects in the North Sea following a tax hike on oil fields announced in last week's Budget, and others are set to follow. The state-owned firm says it is considering what to do with its Mariner and Bressay fields, while Centrica, which owns Scot
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