London open: Quiet start for blue chips
4th Feb 2011 08:47
Footsie is subdued with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and January non-farm payrolls data from the US due out this afternoon. Utilities are one bright spot, with United Utilities, Severn Trent and International Power all higher. Wm Morrison has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'neutral
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to have another crack at 6,000
4th Feb 2011 07:31
The Footsie looks set to make another assault on the 6,000 barrier, with City traders predicting the blue-chip index will open on or around 6,000, having closed at 5,983 last night. Trade might be subdued, however, with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and with investors waiting on the
Read moreDairy Crest maintains momentum in third quarter
4th Feb 2011 07:03
Dairy Crest, the company responsible for Cathedral cheese and Country Life butter, reckons full-year profits will be in line with expectations following a "strong" third quarter. In a statement for the nine months to 31 December, it said sales were "broadly unchanged" from last year when the contri
Read moreFriday preview: Dairy Crest, Electrocomponents, US jobs
3rd Feb 2011 16:48
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) index of food prices rose to a new record last month, underlining concerns about soaring food costs. Those costs are a worry to Cathedral cheese and Country Life butter producer Dairy Crest, as a rise in input prices will put pressure on margins, unless t
Read moreDairy Crest profits rise on strong cheese sales
11th Nov 2010 08:15
Dairy Crest boosted earnings in the half year to 30 September despite lower revenues as higher profits in its cheese division more than offset reduced profits in dairies. The maker of Cathedral City cheese and Country Life butter saw pre-tax profits climb to £40.1m from £38.1m even as revenues fell
Read moreThursday preview: Dairy Crest, Euromoney
10th Nov 2010 17:41
Cheese and milk producer Dairy Crest has had the proverbial roller-coaster of a second half to the year, with the company working hard to pacify concerned investors back in September after rival Robert Wiseman issued a profit warning. The renewal of a contract to supply the supermarket Morrisons w
Read moreLondon close: Footsie slumps in last hour
30th Sep 2010 16:48
A last hour slump sent Footsie into the red by the close of a roller-coaster day. The index had been over 50 points higher in mid-afternoon after US second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised upwards to show a 1.7% quarterly increase. But the Dow turned down sharply soon after, draggin
Read moreLondon afternoon: US GDP data jolts Footsie into life
30th Sep 2010 15:02
Leading equities stormed higher after US second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised upwards to show a 1.7% quarterly increase. Although this represented a slow-down from the 3.7% gain in the first quarter economists had not been expecting any improvement on the previous estimated gain,
Read moreLondon midday: Sluggish Footsie
30th Sep 2010 12:00
Investors are holding fire ahead of this afternoon's release of US gross domestic product data. The downgrading of the credit rating of Spanish sovereign debt came as little surprise and has had minimal effect on sentiment, as has news that the bail out of Anglo Irish Bank could cost Ireland as much
Read moreLondon open: Footsie falls back
30th Sep 2010 08:36
Yesterday's drab showing by Wall Street has engendered a cautious mood on this side of the pond, sending London's leading share index into the red. There has been plenty of corporate news for traders to get their teeth into, much of it relating to the food sector. Compass Group has headed south ev
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set to step back
30th Sep 2010 07:31
Yesterday's drab showing by Wall Street has engendered a cautious mood on this side of the pond, and dealers expect the FTSE 100 to open around 25 points down from its close last night. There has been plenty of corporate news for traders to get their teeth into, much of it relating to the food sect
Read moreCheese sales underpin Dairy Crest growth
30th Sep 2010 07:02
Increased profits from its cheese products has underpinned an improvement in trading at dairy goods firm Dairy Crest. The company said trading in the six months to the end of September has been in line with management expectations and ahead of last year. Sales of Dairy Crest's key brands and of m
Read moreThursday preview: Dairy Crest, Compass, ITE
29th Sep 2010 17:04
Milk and cheese producer Dairy Crest saw its shares take a hit earlier this month when rival Robert Wiseman Dairies issued a profit warning. The company felt moved to issue a statement to calm the markets, saying that though the market was "very competitive" it expected to deliver results that were
Read moreLondon close: Lower finish after sluggish day
29th Sep 2010 16:39
Footsie closed a few points lower at the end of a dull day's trading that was overshadowed by continuing eurozone debt worries. Ireland was the focus of attention again. The rating agency Standard & Poors says the price of bailing out nationalised bank Anglo Irish could exceed $47bn. Banks Royal B
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dairy Crest the cream of the crop
29th Sep 2010 15:19
Dairy Crest is the top riser in the FTSE 250 after announcing that it has renewed a contract to supply the supermarket Morrisons with fresh milk through to 2015. Rail and bus operator FirstGroup, also higher, said it is currently trading in line with management expectations and is on track to deli
Read more