Comment: Diageo issues a sobering reminder
14th Oct 2009 18:49
Diageo's trading update today should serve as a warning to those who have become intoxicated by the soaring share prices seen in the past six months or so. While many companies have been witnessing green shoots or at least a stabilisation in the decline, the firm behind Smirnoff vodka and Guinness
Read moreLondon close: Triple digit gains for FTSE 100
14th Oct 2009 16:36
Footsie ended with gains in excess of 100 points amid a backdrop of cheery economic news and encouraging earnings from the US. Shares started well after US chip-maker Intel smashed forecasts with its third quarter results, were given a boost by a smaller than expected rise in unemployment, then cli
Read moreSector movers: Economic outlook cheers miners
14th Oct 2009 14:49
Mining stocks are at the forefront of the advance today as metals prices advance, helped by news that China imported more copper in September than in the previous month. Among the risers are big firms such as Fresnillo, which said silver production increased 9.3% during its third quarter and said i
Read moreLondon midday: Shares soar on US earnings optimism
14th Oct 2009 12:12
Shares are racing away after US bank JP Morgan followed Intel and smashed through forecasts for the third quarter. Futures are pointing to more than a 120 point gain for the Dow when the US kicks off and UK shares are climbing in anticipation. Intel's results came in well ahead of expectations per
Read moreDiageo sales lose fizz
14th Oct 2009 10:23
Shares in alcoholic drinks giant Diageo fell after the firm said sales in the three months to September 30 fell by 6% from the same period the previous year. 'As we anticipated consumer trends across our markets remain broadly unchanged since the year-end,' said chief executive Paul Walsh. 'There
Read moreBritish American finance boss sells shares
22nd Sep 2009 16:16
British American Tobacco finance boss Ben Stevens has pocketed nearly £200,000 after offloading some of his stake in the Lucky Strike maker. He sold 5,000 shares at 1,981p a share and 5,000 at 1,969p. He now has just more than 95,000. Stevens has been with British American since 1990. He joined th
Read moreComment: Predators stalking big game
11th Sep 2009 13:37
Merger mania has been sparked this week by the Kraft bid for Cadbury and the proposed joint-venture between the UK operations of mobile phone operators Orange and T-Mobile, with pundits posing the question: who’s next? Stockbroker Killik has identified five big names that might be on the takeover m
Read moreLondon afternoon: Market in holiday mood
9th Sep 2009 14:22
Footsie made an assault on the 5,000 level over the lunchtime session but fell short, as investors took note of expectations of a flat start on Wall Street. With mergers and acquisition activity back on the agenda British Airways is in demand on hopes of a swift conclusion to its team-up with Spani
Read moreLondon midday: Consumer confidence boost for equities
9th Sep 2009 12:03
After a hesitant start leading shares have turned higher, helped by the August Nationwide Consumer Confidence index which indicated British consumers are more confident than at any time since May last year. Oil and gas explorer BG Group hailed 'excellent' test drilling results from its 30% owned Gu
Read moreLondon open: Dull start for Footsie
9th Sep 2009 08:43
London has opened lower despite another good day on Wall Street as Nasdaq hit an eleven-month high. Oil and gas explorer BG Group revealed more good news from Brazil an excellent test drill on its 30% owned Guara discovery in the Santos Basin off the coast of Brazil. The discovery is estimated to c
Read moreBroker tips: Diageo, SABMiller, Greene King, RPS
8th Sep 2009 12:30
The Kraft bid for confectionery company Cadbury has prompted a bout of bid speculation in the market with Nomura suggesting that another British company with a long and storied history, Guinness owner Diageo, could get in on the act. While Kraft has extolled the virtues of economies of scale for t
Read moreBroker snap: Merger mania to spread to brewers
8th Sep 2009 11:59
The Kraft bid for confectionery company Cadbury has prompted a bout of bid speculation in the market with Nomura suggesting that another British company with a long and storied history, Guinness owner Diageo, could get in on the act. While Kraft has extolled the virtues of economies of scale for th
Read moreThursday's tips round-up: Diageo, Hargreaves Landsdown, DSG
3rd Sep 2009 06:29
Diageo shares remain a buy, although they may mark time for a while after recent strong gains. The Telegraph's Questor is expecting a pull-back in the FTSE 100 over the next month or so - and Diageo will not be immune to these market moves. However, long-term prospects are good and investors should
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, ITV, National Express
28th Aug 2009 06:05
Lloyds Banking Group is weighing up several alternatives to joining the government's asset protection scheme (APS), which may include a rights issue as well as the sale of Scottish Widows, says the FT. Tony Ball has become an unlikely frontrunner for the chief executive's job at ITV, as doubts emer
Read moreLondon close: BAE dives after contract setback
27th Aug 2009 17:15
After dithering for much of the day London ended in arrears, falling for the second day in succession. A weak opening by Wall Street sent the Footsie into decline in the afternoon session and a late swoon by BAE Systems ensured there was no way back to the high ground for the blue-chip index. Shar
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