London open: Early gains for blue chips
12th Jan 2011 08:50
London has pushed on again in early dealings with miners leading the way and a mixed morning so far for retailers. Supermarket giant J Sainsbury had its best Christmas ever, with better than expected sales, a growing market share and a record number of customers despite the snow. Like for like sa
Read moreLondon pre-open: Mixed start seen
12th Jan 2011 07:35
After yesterday's solid showing London looks to be in consolidation mode with City traders predicting the Footsie will open little changed from last night's close. Supermarket giant Sainsbury had its best Christmas ever, with better than expected sales, a growing market share and a record number of
Read moreCentrica has Rough plea rejected
12th Jan 2011 07:12
Centrica's appeal to have competition restrictions lifted from its Rough gas storage facility in the North Sea has been rejected by the Competition Commission. Rough provides the majority of Great Britain's gas storage for the winter. When it acquired the facility in 2002, Centrica made several und
Read moreE.On ups electricity and gas prices
11th Jan 2011 12:04
Energy firm E.On is to raise electricity and gas prices next month, making EDF Energy the only one of the 'big six' energy suppliers not to have raised its tariffs this year. E.On will implement a 9% increase in electricity prices and a 3% rise in gas prices from 4 February. The new tariffs will me
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 shrugs off weather woes
20th Dec 2010 16:44
Shares held onto gains to close in positive territory despite the bad weather hitting travel and retail stocks. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers fell. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares stay buoyant despite weather hit
20th Dec 2010 15:25
Footsie is still hovering around 5,900 points following a mixed start on Wall Street. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers have trimmed losses. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks & Spencer,
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie tops 5,900
20th Dec 2010 12:00
Things turned around dramatically in the hour before lunch as the session came alive after a rather dull start, nudging a 2½-year high by midday. Defensive issues are still going well. National Grid, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas owner Centrica are expected to benefit from the cold sn
Read moreGreen energy drive to lift electricity bills
16th Dec 2010 13:05
Electricity bills could climb by as much as £500 a year as the government seeks to push energy companies towards low carbon power plants, according to analysts. The price comparison website uSwitch said that taxing traditional energy sources such as coal and gas to pay for investment in renewables
Read moreNpower raises prices by 5.1%
10th Dec 2010 15:36
The cold snap may have eased, but there is no respite for electricity and gas users with Npower raising its tariffs just a day before a price hike from British Gas kicks in. The increase also comes just a fortnight after regulator Ofgem launched a new investigation into energy companies after fresh
Read moreBroker tips: Centrica, Chi-Med, IG Group
10th Dec 2010 13:29
Although estimates have been scaled back, Nomura retains its positive stance on Centrica as the company is best placed to benefit from the changes of the energy and home services industry. The broker maintains that the utility group will be its top pick in 2011, as it will be able to adapt from UK
Read moreBroker snap: Centrica well placed in market
10th Dec 2010 10:54
Although estimates have been scaled back, Nomura retains its positive stance on Centrica as the company is best placed to benefit from the changes of the energy and home services industry. The broker maintains that the utility group will be its top pick in 2011, as it will be able to adapt from UK
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Glencore, Energy bills, RBS...
5th Dec 2010 10:38
Glencore, the world's biggest commodities trader, is poised for a £31bn float that should be one of the largest ever on the London Stock Exchange. The Switzerland-based group has lined up three investment banks ? Credit Suisse, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley ? to prepare for a stock market debut as e
Read moreSnowy weather hits retailers
2nd Dec 2010 13:25
The current spell of wintery weather has already begun taking its toll on businesses. The sportswear and equipment retailer JJB Sports and the department store group John Lewis have both complained that the wintery conditions have been keeping shoppers away. While bad weather does not usually have
Read moreLondon close: Rally falters as eurozone worries continue
26th Nov 2010 16:53
A sharp rally following earlier heavy losses nearly lifted Footsie into positive territory in the afternoon but the rally fizzled out and the leading share index closed lower, with European debt concerns still looming large. Portugal is currently going down the path trodden by Ireland and denying i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses pared
26th Nov 2010 14:39
After briefly dipping below 5600 this morning Footsie more or less halved its losses over the lunchtime session, though heavy falls are still being sustained by miners and banks. Portugal is currently going down the path trodden by Ireland and denying it is in need of a bail-out and, as with Irelan
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