London afternoon: Footsie jumps 120 points
1st Dec 2010 14:17
After a strong morning session leading shares kicked on some more over the lunch time period, as worries over the eurozone debt situation subside. Talk that the European Central Bank may take more measures to deal with the debt crisis has buoyed European markets, with banks bouncing back more than
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Thomas Cook under a cloud
1st Dec 2010 13:54
Shares in Thomas Cook fell back after the holiday firm said winter bookings are going well after a year in which profits were blighted by the volcanic ash cloud in April. Adjusted underlying profit before tax in the year to 30 September was in line with market expectations at £277.0m, down 6.1% fro
Read moreCobbold is De La Rue's 'preferred candidate'
24th Nov 2010 09:52
Banknote printer De La Rue has confirmed media speculation that it is seeking to appoint Tim Cobbold, formerboss of the power systems group Chloride as its chief executive. De La Rue, whose former chief executive James Hussey quit in August after irregularities were uncovered at one of its producti
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Korea, Mutuals, De La Rue...
24th Nov 2010 06:40
The divided Korean peninsula appeared to be teetering on the brink of all-out war yesterday after the North fired dozens of shells across the border during military drills by the South. Two South Korean soldiers were killed and 16 other people were reportedly injured. The artillery bombardment - on
Read moreLondon close: Miners get a hammering
23rd Nov 2010 16:57
Footsie staved off a triple-digit fall by less than half a point as worries over the situation in Korea and the prospect of other European countries joining Ireland in the queue for a bail-out nagged away at investors all day. Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered was hit by worries over the exch
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Laird leaps, De La Rue dives
23rd Nov 2010 15:08
There are big movements in both directions in the FTSE 250 today. Electrical component maker Laird is sharply higher after acquiring Cattron Group, which makes remote controls for cranes, agricultural machinery and other equipment, for $90m (£56.5m). But De La Rue is sharply lower following underl
Read moreLondon afternoon: TUI bid rumour revived
23rd Nov 2010 14:11
With the Dow Jones index expected to register a triple-digit fall when Wall Street opens, sentiment in London has dipped further. Fears of debt contagion in the euro-zone are pushing the banks down, with Barclays, Standard Chartered and Lloyds Banking the hardest hit. Royal Bank of Scotland defies
Read moreBroker tips: RBS, De La Rue, Telecom Plus
23rd Nov 2010 13:20
UBS thinks risk aversion has seen the shares of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) underperform, but reckons the market might have overreacted to the bank's exposure to the Irish crisis. With worried investors shying away from many banks that have exposure to Ireland, RBS shares have taken a hit ove
Read moreBroker snap: Questions surround outlook at De La Rue
23rd Nov 2010 12:59
Uncertainty surrounding bank note volumes and margins on new orders has prompted Panmure Gordon to retain a 'sell' for bank note printer De La Rue. While the broker reviews its forecasts, it suggests that the full-year outlook remains negative. The broker remains cautious over the resolution of p
Read moreLondon midday: Tough morning for blue chips
23rd Nov 2010 11:48
Blue chips have had a difficult morning with the twin concerns of a serious outbreak of fighting in Korea and Irish bail-out worries knocking sentiment. Fears of debt contagion are pushing the banks down, with Barclays, Standard Chartered and Lloyds Banking the hardest hit. Royal Bank of Scotland
Read moreLondon open: Korea and Ireland sink markets
23rd Nov 2010 08:50
Renewed hostilities between North and South Korea and fears that the euro-crisis will spread beyond Ireland have made for a poor start on markets across Europe. Economists are lining up up to say the bail-out proposed for Ireland won't be enough to save the eurozone, while North Korea shelling a So
Read moreLondon pre-open: More falls expected
23rd Nov 2010 07:35
Shares are expected to fall further in early dealings, continuing the reversal yesterday as worries mounted that the euro-crisis will spread beyond Ireland. Mitchells & Butlers' debt reduction programme has cut the pub group's interest bill, helping boost full-year profit by 26%. The All Bar One an
Read moreDe La Rue warns on banknote demand
23rd Nov 2010 07:07
De La Rue's underlying interim profits tumbled after well-flagged problems at one of its paper production sites, with the banknote printer warning it won't make up the shortfall this year. The paper problems cost it £35m and the resignation of chief executive James Hussey. The firm says demand fo
Read moreTuesday preview: Mitchells & Butlers, Severn Trent, De La Rue
22nd Nov 2010 18:04
Pubs group Mitchells & Butlers, which issues full-year results, in its recent nine week trading update highlighted a 3.6% like-for-like sales improvement on last year. Food sales were, as usual, the driver of growth but even the "wet" side of the business saw a pick-up. Brokers now expect the All B
Read moreBroker tips: French Connection, Hasgrove, De La Rue
4th Oct 2010 13:09
Reasons to buy fashion retailer French Connection are piling up, according to FinnCap. The stock appears cheap on the basis of asset backing, on a price/earnings (P/E) ratio once cash is stripped out and also on a discounted cash flow (DCF) basis, the broker maintained. "Indeed, it is not expensi
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