London open: Footsie at 30-month high

21st Dec 2010 08:53

London has hit a new 30-month high on a partial recovery on Wall Street overnight and strong performance in Asia this morning. Banks are leading the way, with good gains for Barclays, RBS and Lloyds this morning. Reports, since played down, that Business secretary Vince Cable could walk away from t

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London close: FTSE 100 shrugs off weather woes

20th Dec 2010 16:44

Shares held onto gains to close in positive territory despite the bad weather hitting travel and retail stocks. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers fell. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks

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London afternoon: Shares stay buoyant despite weather hit

20th Dec 2010 15:25

Footsie is still hovering around 5,900 points following a mixed start on Wall Street. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers have trimmed losses. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks & Spencer,

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London midday: Footsie tops 5,900

20th Dec 2010 12:00

Things turned around dramatically in the hour before lunch as the session came alive after a rather dull start, nudging a 2½-year high by midday. Defensive issues are still going well. National Grid, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas owner Centrica are expected to benefit from the cold sn

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London close: Footsie limps higher

11th Oct 2010 16:38

Footsie closed just a few points higher Monday after a sluggish day's trading that saw the leading share index fluctuating in a narrow range just above the zero mark. Oil services group Petrofac firmed on the back of a lucrative contract win. The government of Sharjah has appointed the company t

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London afternoon: Stocks tread water

11th Oct 2010 14:34

The blue-chip index trod water over the lunchtime session with the majority of leading stocks consolidating the morning's gains. Oil services group Petrofac is firmer on the back of a lucrative contract win. The government of Sharjah has appointed the company to take over operational responsibilit

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Broker tips: SABMiller, Dunelm, Ashmore

11th Oct 2010 12:40

Investors expecting brewing giant SABMiller's performance to regain some fizz may have a while to wait, Nomura Securities suggests. "We think that short-term expectations of a renewal of volume growth towards company's medium-term guidance may be unrealistic. We still expect mixed news flow in the

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London midday: Footsie crawls higher

11th Oct 2010 12:06

Footsie traded in a narrow range throughout the morning session and started the afternoon in marginally in positive territory, boosted by expectations of a moderately firm opening on Wall Street. Oil services group Petrofac is leading the market's far from vigorous advance. The government of Sharja

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Broker snap: Dunelm is 'compelling roll-out story'

11th Oct 2010 12:03

It's a case of 'snooze and you lose' at bedding and home furnishings retailer Dunelm, with broker KBC Peel Hunt advising its clientele to wake up to the investment appeal of what is 'stacking up to be the most compelling organic roll-out story in the UK general retail sector.' The broker has initia

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Sunday tips round-up: Dunelm, Anglo American, Mulberry...

10th Oct 2010 12:01

Many companies that move from family to public ownership find the transition difficult. But household goods retailer Dunelm has gone from strength to strength since floating four years ago, not least thanks to the Adderleys' son Will, who took over as chief executive in 1996. Dunelm aims to offer v

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London close: Higher finish for Footsie as miners march ahead

6th Oct 2010 16:48

It was the surge in US shares yesterday rather than today's nervous performance that provided a lead for Footsie, helping London's top share index close with good gains. A nasty jobs report sent jitters through US markets. Private sector employers cut 39,000 jobs in September, against a gain of 10,

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London afternoon: Airlines flying high

6th Oct 2010 14:30

Profit takers have skimmed off some of the cream of the gains seen this morning on mining stocks while the two big trading updates of the day have also sparked negative reactions, but Footsie remains comfortably in positive territory. Metals prices have strengthened in line with a weaker dollar, w

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FTSE 250 movers: Easyjet takes off

6th Oct 2010 14:21

Shares in Easyjet took off after the no-frills airline said it expects profits this year to come in slightly above its previous forecast after lower volcano ash costs and better demand for European short-haul flights. Fast growing homewares retailer Dunelm is finding it hard to match last year's ra

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London midday: Autonomy cuts revenue guidance

6th Oct 2010 12:01

With metals prices on the rise mining stocks were the shares to hold in a morning session that saw Footsie make an assault on the 5700 level before falling away in the hour before noon. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are still sporting handsome gains. Metals prices have strength

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Dunelm dash for growth continues

6th Oct 2010 07:29

Fast growing homewares retailer Dunelm is finding it hard to match last year's rapid like for like sales growth rate but management was still encouraged by the company's first quarter performance. Total sales in the 13 weeks to 2 October rose 11.6% to £126.7m from £113.6m in the corresponding perio

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