London midday: Footsie flatlines
25th Feb 2010 11:45
London's top stocks have retreated from the gains sparked by Royal Bank of Scotland's numbers. RBS shares are up by more than 6% after the part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable loss narrow markedly in 2009 with fourth quarter impairments 5% lower than the third quarter. Net attributabl
Read moreLondon open: Miners offset RBS rally
25th Feb 2010 08:12
London's top stocks opened lower despite a set of despite figures from RBS suggesting there is light at the end of the tunnel for the bank. The drop comes even though Royal Bank of Scotland's shares jumped by more than 6% after the open. The part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable loss na
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set to slide
25th Feb 2010 07:43
London is set to open lower despite a set of figures from RBS which suggested there is light at the end of the tunnel for the bank. City traders expect the blue-chip index to open around 26 points lower at 5,316. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) saw its net attributable loss narrow markedly in 2009 to
Read moreCapita profits rise, divi up 17%
25th Feb 2010 07:23
Outsourcing giant Capita announced a strong improvement in pre-tax profits, but the rise still came in below market forecasts. Pre-tax profit for the year ended 31 December rose to £258.1m, up from £226.6m in 2008 but below broker forecasts of £321m. However, underlying pre-tax profits increased to
Read moreThursday preview: RBS, BATS, Capita
24th Feb 2010 16:23
It seems like the London stock market has been treading water all week waiting for results from the part-nationalised banks Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking. RBS is first out of the traps on Thursday and although investment analysts' opinions vary wildly on the likely scale of the c
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set to follow US higher
3rd Feb 2010 07:36
A triple digit rise overnight by the Dow Jones has encouraged an optimistic frame of mind in London, with traders expecting the blue-chip index to make an assault on the 5300 level at the opening, which would imply a rise of around 17 points from last night's close. Data search software Autonomy re
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Royal Bank of Scotland, Cadbury, Pre-Budget
6th Dec 2009 10:27
More than 1,000 investment bankers have quit Royal Bank of Scotland to join rival firms for guaranteed cash bonuses and big salary increases, according to banking sources. The staff exodus, which has cut a swathe through the senior ranks of RBS, has been gathering pace since the government first o
Read moreBroker tips: Capita, Halma, FuturaGene
3rd Dec 2009 12:55
Broker KBC Peel Hunt has initiated coverage of outsourcing giant Capita with a 'buy' recommendation and a price target of 800p, stating that 'there are more opportunities than ever facing the business.' The broker reckons the trend towards outsourcing in both the private and public sectors will con
Read moreBroker snap: Plentiful scope for Capita
3rd Dec 2009 12:45
Broker KBC Peel Hunt has initiated coverage of outsourcing giant Capita with a 'buy' recommendation and a price target of 800p, stating that 'there are more opportunities than ever facing the business.' The broker reckons the trend towards outsourcing in both the private and public sectors will con
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Capita, Mothercare, Vodafone
19th Nov 2009 06:12
It is too soon to tell whether the City's underlying fear ? that Capita's years of consistent double-digit growth are ending ? will be realised. However, in the interim, professional investors may prove unwilling to pay 721¾p, or 17 times 2010 earnings, if that trajectory is in doubt. For that reaso
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for FTSE 100
18th Nov 2009 16:33
There was no shortage of market moving news today, but with stocks moving in both directions, Footsie finished little changed. It was day for high profile board room appointments, with the share prices of Marks & Spencer and ITV both responding well to an end to uncertainty over leadership issues.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: New chief lifts M&S
18th Nov 2009 14:56
Marks & Spencer is top dog this afternoon after it poached Mark Bolland to be its new chief executive from Wm Morrison. Morrisons, by contrast, has slumped on the news. Bolland joined Morrisons in September 2006, helping the Bradford-based supermarket recover from its problematic acquisition of Saf
Read moreLondon afternoon: Hershey & Ferrero size up Cadbury
18th Nov 2009 14:05
It has been a day for high profile board room appointments, with the share prices of Marks & Spencer and ITV both responding well to an end to uncertainty over leadership issues. Retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has poached Marc Bolland, chief executive of supermarket chain Morrisons, to be its new b
Read moreLondon midday: Market cheers M&S appointment
18th Nov 2009 12:02
Retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) moved to the top of the news agenda this morning after it announced it has poached Marc Bolland, chief executive of supermarket chain Morrisons, to be its new boss. While Marks & Spencer's shares responded positively to the appointment, shares in Morrisons fell back o
Read moreLondon open: Early gains for Footsie
18th Nov 2009 08:48
London's top stocks have opened higher following yesterday's drop, which brought a 4-day winning streak to an end. Troubled broadcaster ITV has confirmed the appointment of former Tory party MP Archie Norman as its new non-executive Chairman. He will take up the role in January 2010, when current e
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