FTSE 100 movers: Capita leads the risers
1st Mar 2013 15:45
Outsourcing group Capita continued to be a high riser having said that it has acquired debt recovery specialists iQor Holdings UK and subsidiaries (iQor UK) for an enterprise value of 42m pounds. Insurance group Old Mutual was in demand after posting an 18% increase in annual profits in 2012, drive
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite declines as US budget cuts loom
1st Mar 2013 12:04
After an initial stint in positive territory, UK stock markets swung sharply into the red by Friday lunchtime as concerns about budget cuts in the US take their toll on risk appetite. Sequestration is continuing to dominate headlines this morning as the deadline for across-the-board automatic budge
Read moreCapita acquires debt recovery specialist iQor
1st Mar 2013 08:55
FTSE 100-listed business process management provider Capita has acquired debt recovery specialists iQor Holdings UK and subsidiaries (iQor UK) from its US parent company, for an enterprise value of 42m pounds. This comprises a cash consideration of £40.5m on a cash free, debt free basis and the ass
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain as US economic data impresses
28th Feb 2013 16:23
An upwards revision to US economic growth estimates prompted an afternoon rally in London, with markets extending gains after some dovish comments from central bankers in the US and Europe. Concerns about a recession in the States proved premature, as the initial estimate of a 0.1% contraction in U
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Kazakhmys in red on plans to slash divi
28th Feb 2013 15:21
Copper giant Kazakhmys was the worst performer of the day after saying that it would be slashing its dividend for 2012 to reflect falling profits. The company also said that its CFO would step down in May, when its Chairman is also due to retire. UK lender RBS slumped in morning trade despite core
Read moreLondon midday: RBS, miners limit gains on the Footsie
28th Feb 2013 11:45
Markets were lifted higher on Thursday morning by upbeat comments about central bank stimulus, though heavy losses from RBS and a number of miners were limiting gains for the FTSE 100. Speaking to Senate's Banking Committee on Capitol Hill over the last two days, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Ber
Read moreLondon open: Stocks gain as central bankers back stimulus
28th Feb 2013 08:28
Stocks were making solid gains on Thursday morning after the heads of central banks in the US and Europe defended their current easing policies. Speaking to Senate's Banking Committee on Capitol Hill over the last two days, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the Fed's asset purchase
Read moreCapita revenue leaps on record sales year
28th Feb 2013 07:28
Revenue rose 14 per cent to 3.4bn pounds in the full year to December 31st at Capita, the FTSE 100-listed group that provides business process management and professional support service solutions. The company reported good sales, operational and financial performance for the year with £4.0bn of co
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to track US markets higher
28th Feb 2013 07:27
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 37 points from yesterday's close of 6,326, tracking gains seen in Asia and the US overnight. US markets traded higher on Wednesday after bullish economic data indicated that the nation's housing sector is gaining momentum. January pending home sales c
Read moreCapita wins contract extension from Cabinet Office
28th Feb 2013 07:03
Capita, the UK outsourcing group listed on the FTSE 100, has announced that the Cabinet Office has extended its contract to exclusively manage the provision of training across the Civil Service for a further two years from February 2014 to the end of March 2016. Capita expects the deal to generate
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
22nd Feb 2013 07:12
Antofagasta: RBC upgrades from underperform to outperform. Ashmore Group: Citigroup raises target price from 330p to 355p upgrading to neutral. JP Morgan ups target price from 361p to 413p and maintains a neutral rating. Babcock International: Citigroup revises target price from 965p to 1185p and
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slip as growth concerns dampen sentiment
14th Feb 2013 16:30
The FTSE 100 had picked up off its intraday low by the end of the session on Thursday, but a barrage of worse-than-expected economic growth figures from across the globe ensured that markets remained in negative territory. Buying picked up slightly in afternoon trade after initial US jobless claims
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks sink as Eurozone contracts further in Q4
14th Feb 2013 12:05
After hitting a fresh five-year high the day before, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slumped on Thursday morning as traders reacted to weaker-than-expected economic growth figures from Japan and across Europe. Overnight, it was announced that Japanese gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.
Read moreLondon open: Markets flat as stocks digest GDP figures
14th Feb 2013 08:37
Markets opened broadly flat on Thursday morning, pausing after hitting a fresh five-year high the day before, as investors showed caution on a busy day for economic data. Overnight, it was announced that Japanese gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, down 0.4% on an
Read moreCapita buys N. Ireland-based infrastructure solutions firm
14th Feb 2013 07:02
Capita, the UK outsourcing group listed on the FTSE 100, is to buy Northgate Managed Services (NMS), a cloud-based infrastructure solutions and specialist managed services. The business has agreed to be acquired from Northgate Information Solutions for an enterprise value of £65m, comprising £22m i
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