London close: Shares edge higher on quiet day
4th Apr 2011 16:43
Having hovered around its starting point for much of the day, the top share index finished just a few points higher. Vodafone's sale of what it considers non-core minority stakes continues with the sale of its 44% holding in French mobile phone group SFR to French media group Vivendi for €7.75bn (£
Read moreLondon midday: Shares seeking direction
4th Apr 2011 12:25
Shares are still seeking direction after a slight recovery following a lower start in the morning. It has been a morning for asset sales with both telecoms giant Vodafone and oil colossus BP pressing on with their respective asset sale programmes. Vodafone's sale of what it considers non-core min
Read moreLondon open: Shares drift lower
4th Apr 2011 08:27
The top share index has drifted slightly lower in early dealings though a couple of big hitters have moved higher after updates. It has been a morning for asset sales with both telecoms giant Vodafone and oil colossus BP pressing on with their respective asset sale programmes. Vodafone's sale of
Read moreCranswick sees FY broadly in line with views
4th Apr 2011 07:24
East Yorkshire-based pork supplier Cranswick said results for the year to 31 March 2011 will be broadly in line with expectations. Underlying like-for-like sales for the year to 31 March 2011 increased by 4% while volumes during the period gained 6% on the same basis. Underlying sales in the fourt
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Imperial Tobacco, Sage, ICAP...
3rd Feb 2011 06:44
There has been a shortage of good news for investors in Imperial Tobacco and other cigarette makers. Shares in the sector were hit recently by claims that the habit could die out within 40 years. There is little sign of that in Imperial's latest figures. Imperial plans to raise the ratio of earning
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars as Egypt worries ease
1st Feb 2011 16:51
Well-received company updates, strong economic figures here and elsewhere and an easing of worries related to the situation in Egypt helped UK shares to strong gains. Miners led the advance, after strong growth in manufacturing in commodity hungry China in January. The UK, eurozone and US also had
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners and techs in demand
1st Feb 2011 14:15
Shares added to the morning's gains over the lunchtime session, buoyed by the prospect of a firm start on Wall Street. Miners lead the advance, after strong growth in Chinese manufacturing in January, though technology stocks are also in demand. Mining giant Xstrata produced more coking coal, sem
Read moreSales momentum continues at Cranswick
1st Feb 2011 07:26
Gourmet sausage maker Cranswick rolled out a 5% increase in underlying like for like sales during the third quarter. The Hull based firm, which sells its pork products to supermarkets, said trading continued to be positive in the three months to 31 December 2010 after sizzling first half sales. L
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: BHP Billiton, JD Sports, Cranswick...
17th Nov 2010 06:56
Given the strength of its balance sheet, BHP's stock is cheap, with Barclays Capital putting it on a multiple of just above nine times forecast earnings for the 2011 calendar year. The mining sector, on the other hand, trades on an average of eight times. That premium is far too slight for such a
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers as M&A action heats up
15th Nov 2010 16:37
The top share index snapped out of a weak start to finish in positive territory Monday as jitters over the Irish debt situation eased and bid speculation and company updates attracted attention. Shares in Invensys moved higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Sportingbet jumps on merger talks
15th Nov 2010 15:16
Investors are taking a punt on Sportingbet after the online bookmaker confirmed it is in merger talks, rumoured to be with Swedish rival Unibet in a deal that could be worth up to £600m. Pork specialist Cranswick is posting meaty gains after it served up a 12% increase in half year pre-tax profit,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid activity keeps the pot bubbling
15th Nov 2010 14:07
A sprinkling of bid speculation is livening up markets this Monday, as traders wait for the Irish sovereign debt situation to play itself out. Shares in Invensys are higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received an approach. The company's chief executive Ulf Henrik
Read moreBroker tips: Persimmon, Cranswick, Majestic Wine
15th Nov 2010 12:54
KBC Peel Hunt, a persistent bear on housebuilders, notes that Persimmon's trading update has a "positive tone but weaker undertow", reflecting over-valued shares in a struggling housebuilding sector. The group saw unit sales since July total around 9,400, under the broker's figure of 9,700. KBC for
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie back in the blue
15th Nov 2010 12:07
Footsie is in positive territory now after an impressive rally that has been mostly powered by miners, though there's takeover talk in the oil sector. Premier Oil is doing its bit for the mid-cap index, racing to a new all-time high on talk that state-controlled KNOC, the Koreans who recently paid
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull index lower
15th Nov 2010 08:43
Blue chips have opened lower despite some trading updates today, with miners the main drag on sentiment. BHP Billiton's decision to end its battle to buy Canada's Potash Corp for around $40bn and sweeten shareholders with a $4.2bn share buyback instead has not helped its share price. Earlier this
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