London pre-open: Subdued start expected ahead of long weekend
17th Apr 2014 07:33
UK stocks are set to open slightly lower on Thursday as investors adopt a cautious stance ahead of the four-day weekend amid ongoing turmoil in Ukraine. "The European open looks set to be a mixed affair as global indices seem undecided as to whether they are actually ready to start moving back towa
Read moreTop-line growth at Diageo dampened by emerging market weakness
17th Apr 2014 07:10
Year-to-date organic revenue growth at beverages group Diageo has been held back by sales declines in the third quarter due to weakness across many emerging markets. The company, famous for spirits brands Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan and Smirnoff as well as Guinness stout, said that organic net s
Read moreThursday preview: Diageo releases third quarter interims
16th Apr 2014 14:19
UK beverages giant Diageo is expected to report revenue growth in its third quarter interims on Thursday. In its first half results the company reported weaker sales than analysts had forecast with a volume decline in Asia, Latin America and Nigeria. Emerging market volume was down 3% and net sales
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Royal Mail leads risers, miners slide lower
15th Apr 2014 14:00
Royal Mail shares were in the top spot in today's session, as investors await to hear the government's decision on whether to sell the remaining 30 per cent stake in the group now that the lock-up period has expired. According to the BBC, senior Tories are firmly in favour of a sale. Defensive stoc
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks edge lower as investors digest data, earnings
15th Apr 2014 11:30
- Chinese, UK and German data disappoints - UK corporate updates come in mixed - US data, earnings in focus this afternoon techMARK 2,644.12 +0.06% FTSE 100 6,577.20 -0.10% FTSE 250 15,693.09 -0.06% UK stocks were trading with small losses on Tuesday on a busy day for economic data and corporate n
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall after China data and mixed corporate news
15th Apr 2014 08:28
- Chinese new credit falls in March, money supply slows down - Corporate earnings/updates receive mixed reaction - Economic data in focus later on techMARK 2,645.66 +0.12% FTSE 100 6,571.94 -0.18% FTSE 250 15,761.41 +0.38% UK stocks opened with small losses on Tuesday morning after yet more disapp
Read moreDiageo offers 1.1bn pounds to gain United Spirits majority stake
15th Apr 2014 07:17
Diageo, the maker of Gunness, Baileys and Smirnoff, has offered 1.1bn pounds to take a majority stake in Indian alcoholic beverages group United Spirits (USL). The UK-listed company has launched a tender offer for up to 26% of USL, India's largest 'alcobev' company with over 140 brands, lifting its
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rise despite tensions in Ukraine
14th Apr 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes up 22.06 at 6,583.76 - Tensions in Eastern Europe provide drag - BP a notable faller - US retail sales beat expectations techMARK 2,642.52 -1.03% FTSE 100 6,583.76 +0.34% FTSE 250 15,702.42 -1.23% UK stocks managed to finish in positive territory despite growing tensions in Eastern
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarkets, miners lead, airlines fly lower
14th Apr 2014 15:09
Sainsbury was a strong riser as it recovered from last week's news that it had lost some of its market share to the likes of discount stores Lidl and Aldi. Sector peer Tesco was also making decent gains after it was reported the company is planning to launch its F&F range in the US. Other stocks
Read moreSector movers: Consumer staples rise as investors seek defensive stocks
14th Apr 2014 13:56
Consumer staples and non-cyclical stocks were benefiting from a reduction in risk appetite in London on Monday, as investors sought out more defensive assets. Tobacco and beverage stocks, supermarket chains and food producers were among the best performers of the day. Defensives are stocks that te
Read moreLondon midday: Sell-off continues on Ukraine crisis, but defensives gain
14th Apr 2014 11:40
- Ukraine calls on pro-Russian radicals to lay down arms - Defensive stocks, consumer staples rise as risk appetite falls - Glencore Xstrata sells Las Bambas for 5.85bn dollars techMARK 2,627.27 -1.60% FTSE 100 6,540.54 -0.32% FTSE 250 15,638.88 -1.63% UK markets picked up where they left off on M
Read moreSector movers: Consumer staples making gains
8th Apr 2014 15:16
Consumer staples stocks were among the best performers on Tuesday in London with tobacco, food and beverage stocks leading the advance. Cigarettes and tobacco giant British American Tobacco was among the best performers on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trade, up 1.8%, along with cosmetics and food grou
Read moreSector movers: Drink and supermarket stocks fall
1st Apr 2014 14:15
Beverages and food retailing were among the worst performing sectors on Tuesday in London after gloomy comments from analysts weighed on Peroni maker SABMiller and supermarket giant Tesco. SABMiller was down 0.7% at 2,974p this afternoon, continuing to pull back after hitting a two-month high on Fr
Read moreLondon open: BHP, Aberdeen lead markets higher ahead of data
1st Apr 2014 08:23
- BHP Billiton, Aberdeen, Babcock, GKN provide a lift - Weir falls on Metso merger speculation - Markets await global manufacturing PMIs techMARK 2,779.21 +0.53% FTSE 100 6,621.97 +0.36% FTSE 250 16,339.39 +0.40% UK stocks opened with small gains on Tuesday ahead of a data-heavy session with manuf
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Mar 2014 12:35
888 Holdings: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 166p to 160p retaining its hold recommendation. Aberdeen Asset Management: JP Morgan cuts target price from 529p to 509p and stays with its overweight rating. Advanced Medical Solutions: Investec shifts target price from 121p to 129p, while down
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