Centrica takes stake in smart meter company
7th Oct 2010 07:21
The shopping spree at Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, shows no sign of ending as the company has taken an equity stake in home energy management services company, AlertMe. Centrica is paying £5.7m in cash for a 15.96% stake in AlertMe, and has also signed a commercial agreement, potent
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Banks, Ireland, Unilever
30th Sep 2010 06:29
Downing Street appeared to be snubbing the banking industry yesterday as it finalised a 16-strong panel of corporate grandees to advise the Prime Minister on business matters. While manufacturing, construction, utilities, retailing and small businesses are well represented, no one from the banking
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Unilever, Centrica, Thomas Cook...
29th Sep 2010 06:45
Unilever shares have underperformed of late, although they have started to bounce from recent lows. However, they are still more than £2 below their recent high of £20.15 seen in December. They hit a low of £16.88 at the end of August. The long-term growth will come from emerging markets, where mor
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for blue chips
28th Sep 2010 08:47
London is heading lower led by Thomas Cook after a gloomy update, while miners and banks are also under pressure after a weak finish on Wall Street overnight. Tour operator Cook said it has now started a review of its UK cost base after softer than expected business over the summer and in view of t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Leading shares stalled
28th Sep 2010 07:33
London looks set for a flat opening, continuing the lack of direction seen for much of yesterday's session. Hedge fund manager Man's first half profits will fall by a fifth to $215m as performance fees dwindled after a tough half for its flagship AHL fund. Funds under management have stabilised r
Read moreCentrica buys Connaught Compliance
28th Sep 2010 07:03
The picking over of the bones of collapsed Connaught Group continues with British Gas owner Centrica acquiring the assets of Connaught Compliance, Connaught's gas and electricity services business. Centrica is paying £11.2m for the business which will add around 400 service engineers and more than
Read moreLondon close: Footsie turns lower as US nerves kick in
21st Sep 2010 16:33
Footsie fell into the red in late trading as nervousness kicked in on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve's statement on the outlook for the US economy this evening. The Fed will also make its rate decision. In company news here, Cairn Energy was a strong performer after an update of drillin
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Cairn boosted by Greenland hopes
21st Sep 2010 14:47
Oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy is the best performer even though it has abandoned a well that it drilled in Greenland because it said that the discovery was not commercial. Cairn did say that the presence of both oil and gas confirms an active, working petroleum system in the basin and it believe
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie cruises higher
21st Sep 2010 14:27
The blue-chip index edged a little higher over the lunch time session but traders are reluctant to go too far out on a limb prior to the Federal Reserve's rate decision, due to be announced this evening. Dual-listed cruise operator Carnival said third quarter revenues rose to $4.4bn from $4.1bn th
Read moreMears and British Gas in energy efficiency drive
21st Sep 2010 08:05
Mears and British Gas have joined forces to help improve the energy efficiency of 500,000 council and housing association properties. The two firms will combine to use the funding opportunities under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) to
Read moreLondon close: Footsie gives up gains
17th Sep 2010 16:39
London's leading share index certainly made up for its early sluggishness on the last day of trading this week, but the day ended in disappointment as strong early gains evaporated. As is often the case, it was the US that was mostly responsible. Shares on Wall Street are broadly in the red followi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie goes flat
17th Sep 2010 14:45
The afternoon session has seen Footsie heading backwards and even dipping below last night's level at one stage, and with company news thin on the ground the temptation for traders to make an early start to the week-end must be high. Invensys has been usurped from its position as best performing bl
Read moreLondon midday: Prices come off the top
17th Sep 2010 12:27
Having enjoyed a brief foray above 5,600 Footsie has slipped back below that level as miners come off the top, though the index remains in positive territory on the day. Invensys leads the way overall after the engineer became the exclusive supplier of railway signalling to Chinese rolling stock ma
Read moreLondon open: Footsie pushes higher
17th Sep 2010 09:00
After yesterday's sluggish performance London has more of a spring in its step today. Only three blue chips are down at present, with miners again going well after the late rally on Wall Street overnight. Vedanta and Kazakhmys are the sector stars this morning. Invensys leads the way overall after
Read moreLondon pre-open: Buying interest reawakens
17th Sep 2010 07:34
After yesterday's sluggish performance London looks like it has more of a spring in its step today with traders predicting the Footsie will open around 50 points firmer. British Gas owner Centrica has stepped up its campaign to secure more of its gas supplies. It has doubled its equity interest in
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