London close: Footsie recovers to close higher
26th Jul 2011 16:55
The top share index finished in the blue on Tuesday despite a volatile day of trading, as investors digested a host of trading updates and results from some heavyweight constituents. Meanwhile, the US debt ceiling saga continued to roll on in the background as President Barack Obama and House Spea
Read moreFTSE 250 Movers: Set-top box maker sets the Pace
26th Jul 2011 15:31
After announcing that it expects its full-year results to fall short of expectations, pork products supplier Cranswick's share price fell 12.17% to 649.50p. The expected shortfall was the result of continuing high input costs and a weak consumer environment, the company said. Despite seeing its
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 seeks direction after news flurry
26th Jul 2011 12:07
The top shares index sits just in the red with a flurry of updates failing to provide a definite sense of direction. The mixed reception is apparent in the oil sector where BP and BG Group are moving in both directions BP is the laggard of the FTSE 100. The rising price of oil and gas boosted its p
Read moreLondon open: Oil stocks pull FTSE 100 both ways
26th Jul 2011 08:32
London has got off to a quiet start overall but there is plenty of corporate news for traders to digest and stocks are moving in both directions. BP is the laggard of the FTSE 100. The rising price of oil and gas boosted its profits in the second quarter, though the benefits were partially offset b
Read moreSqueezed Cranswick warns on profits
26th Jul 2011 07:04
Pork products supplier Cranswick expects full-year results to fall short of expectations as it continues to face high input costs and a weak consumer environment. The company, which supplies sausages and bacon for the Sainsbury's 'Taste the Difference' range, says it is in discussions with customer
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: M&A news rules market sentiment
1st Jul 2011 15:39
Merger activity once again ruled market sentiment with water and waste management group Northumbrian Water and defence group QinetiQ coming into focus. Northumbrian Water confirmed that it received an offer proposal from Hong Kong infrastructure group Cheung Kong. The statement comes after Cheung
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Autonomy, Mears, RPC
17th May 2011 00:01
Autonomy is buying the digital storage assets of Iron Mountain, a quoted American company, for $380m (£234m). The City, which has an unsteady relationship with Autonomy, was generally in favour of the deal, not least because it clearly is an area the company knows well, which should mitigate risk. T
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish after late fightback
16th May 2011 16:33
Shares staged a fightback ahead of the close, ending the day flat. Company updates gave traders plenty to ponder, but it was electrical retailers Dixons and Kesa that were the centre of attention. Rumours that Kesa may sell its UK operation Comet, which has been struggling lately, have been doing t
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dixons, Kesa surge on Comet rumours
16th May 2011 15:59
Electrical products retailers Dixons Retail and Kesa Electricals have jumped higher after press speculations that the latter is contemplating where to offload its Comet chain. London Stock Exchange is wanted after saying it remains committed to its proposed merger with its Canadian counterpart TMX
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 drifts lower
16th May 2011 12:00
Stocks have drifted lower following their poor start. The European debt crisis talks overshadowed by the arrest of IMF chief Dominique Strass-Kahn. European finance ministers look likely to give the go-ahead for a Portuguese bailout today in a meeting overshadowed by the arrest of the head of the I
Read moreLondon open: Mixed reception for company updates
16th May 2011 08:25
Stocks are suffering more losses in early dealings, with company updates failing to impress the market. Oilfield services group Wood Group slips after saying it is to return £1.05bn to shareholders by way of a tender offer to repurchase up to 32.1% of the issued ordinary share capital of the group.
Read moreLondon pre-open: Soft opening expected
16th May 2011 07:39
The top share index could well slide below 5,900 at the outset this morning with City traders expecting the Footsie to dip by around 27 points from Friday's close of 5,926. Oilfield services group Wood Group is to return £1.05bn to shareholders by way of a tender offer to repurchase up to 32.1% of
Read moreCranswick brings home the bacon
16th May 2011 07:02
Pork sausages maker Cranswick enjoyed a record year of sales and profitability, despite sales growth petering out in the first quarter of 2011. Underlying sales in the year to to 31/3/11 were up 4% from the previous year at £758m, on volumes that were 6% higher. Sales in the group's final quarter,
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Aggreko, Cranswick, GlaxoSmithKline
5th Apr 2011 06:39
Temporary power provider Aggreko's shares rallied yesterday as the market welcomed the news that the company is to supply power to Japan to make up for some of the shortfall from the nuclear plants crippled by the disaster. To be sure, there have been questions from analysts about the impact from th
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Cranswick disappoints
4th Apr 2011 17:40
East Yorkshire-based pork supplier Cranswick said results for the year to 31 March 2011 will be broadly in line with expectations, disappointing investors it seems. Close Brothers was lower after making an agreed bid for Cavanagh Group in a deal that values the AIM-quoted independent financial advi
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