London close: Stocks finish choppy session higher as oil stocks gain, CRH jumps
2nd Feb 2015 17:19
A late rebound ensured that UK stocks finished firmly in positive territory on Monday, though trading was choppy as investors digested mixed manufacturing data from across the globe and a rebound in oil prices. After swinging between gains and losses for most of the session, London's FTSE 100 closed
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: CRH surges on Holcim and Lafarge deal, Easyjet and IAG hit by rising oil prices
2nd Feb 2015 14:07
Irish building materials group CRH rose nearly 6% after confirming it will spend €6.5bn on assets from Holcim and Lafarge as the two European cement makers dispose of operations to win approval for their merger. CRH said it expected the deal to make it the "global number-three building materials pla
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks trim gains, but CRH and Tullow surge
2nd Feb 2015 12:06
CRH and energy stocks pushed the FTSE 100 higher by Monday lunchtime, though gains were pared as investors digested data and watched developments in Greece. London's benchmark index was up 0.3% at 6,771 by midday, having pulled back after hitting a high of 6,795.52 early on. CRH was on the rise aft
Read moreBroker tips: Mining stocks, CRH, Barclays
2nd Feb 2015 11:38
The recent re-rating in mining stocks and weak commodity prices has prompted Liberum to downgrade its recommendations on sector giants BHP Billiton, Glencore, Anglo American and Rio Tinto. The broker lowered its ratings on all four from 'sell' to 'hold' and slashed target prices, saying that copper
Read moreLondon open: CRH and oil stocks lift FTSE 100 ahead of PMI data
2nd Feb 2015 09:13
Strong gains from CRH and a host of oil stocks pushed UK markets higher on Monday, as investors awaited a host of manufacturing data from across the globe. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.4% at 6,777 early on. CRH was on the rise after agreeing a deal to buy assets from Holcim and Lafarge, while energy
Read moreLondon close: Stocks at highest since September on ECB optimism, upbeat data
23rd Jan 2015 17:08
UK stocks pushed higher on Friday, finishing at levels not seen in over four months, lifted by improving economic data and continued optimism surrounding a massive bond-buying plan by the European Central Bank (ECB). The FTSE 100 settled up 0.5% at 6,832.83 by the end of the session despite heavy fa
Read moreSector movers: CRH, Balfour Beatty lift construction sector
23rd Jan 2015 15:03
M&A speculation surrounding CRH and a broker upgrade for Balfour Beatty were giving the UK construction and materials sector a lift on Friday. Building materials firm CRH was 2.5% higher, extending gains made on Thursday after confirming speculation that it was in talks to buy some of Lafarge and Ho
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: CRH and Reckitt rise, while commodity stocks feel the pinch
23rd Jan 2015 13:15
Irish cement maker CRH jumped on Friday after news emerged it was leading the race to buy assets from rivals Holcim and Lafarge. Both firms are offloading businesses to ensure their proposed merger is approved and CRH has reportedly bid as much as €6bn for the assets. The firm confirmed it is in dis
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks extend post-ECB rally as UK retail data beats forecasts
23rd Jan 2015 11:29
UK stocks were up on Friday morning after data showed an unexpected rise in retail sales, though gains were modest with markets already trading at a four-month high following a €1.1trn stimulus plan in Europe. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,812 by midday, after finishing the previous session at
Read moreLondon open: Stocks extend rally post ECB, but mining shares fall
23rd Jan 2015 09:14
UK stocks were extending gains on Friday morning despite weakness in the mining sector, as sentiment continued to be boosted by the announcement of a €1.1trn stimulus package in the Eurozone. The FTSE 100 was up 0.5% at 6,832 early on after finishing the previous session at 6,796.60, its best finish
Read moreLondon open: Tesco leads stock surge ahead of economic data, BoE decision
8th Jan 2015 08:45
Big gains from Tesco and a strong finish on Wall Street helped drive UK markets higher on Thursday morning, as investors awaited a flurry of economic data and a policy decision by the Bank of England (BoE). Heavyweight grocer Tesco was leading the risers early on after investors applauded the superm
Read moreCRH portfolio shake-up "well underway" as group eyes acquisitions
8th Jan 2015 08:01
Building materials group CRH said its multiyear €1.5bn-2bn divestment programme announced last August was "well underway" after it sold off 16 assets in 2014. During the year, the company raised €350m in disposal proceeds after completing 16 divestments. Divestments included the exit of the Turkish
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks trim gains ahead of early finish on NYE
31st Dec 2014 11:25
UK stocks had pared gains by midday but were still trading marginally in positive territory heading into the close on a shortened New Year's Eve session. The FTSE 100 was up 0.05% at 6,551 by noon on the last trading day of the year, but looks set to finish December down 2.6% - its worst December in
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Centrica boosted by directorate change, oil and gas stocks strong
23rd Dec 2014 14:07
Centrica shares were boosted as the company appointed Carlos Pascual as a new non-executive director, who is said to have extensive geopolitical, economic and commercial development experience in the energy industry. "He brings a wealth of experience with his exceptionally strong international b
Read moreLondon close: Oil price slide fuels fall in equities as rouble tumbles
15th Dec 2014 16:45
Oil prices embarked on fresh falls on Monday, dragging the London market down with them. The price of a barrel of US light crude had dropped about 3.7% to $57.8 towards the end of the trading session while a barrel of Brent crude fell just under 3% to $61.85. The falls fueled a 117.91-point fall in
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