Tuesday tips round-up: Thomas Cook, Drax, Creston
1st Dec 2009 06:44
Annual results from Thomas Cook beat consensus expectations and also included an upbeat outlook for the coming year. With a price to earnings ratio of just 10.7 times, a considerable discount to rival TUI Travel, Thomas Cook is still a buy says the Independent. Power station Drax supplies about 7%
Read moreLondon close: US sparks late rally
5th Nov 2009 16:21
A smaller than expected increase to the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme and and early surge on Wall Street helped Footsie overcome early losses and close in the blue. The central bank voted to pump an additional £25bn into the economy, taking QE to £200bn. It also kept interest rate
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie climbs into blue
5th Nov 2009 14:13
A smaller than expected increase to the Bank of England's quantitative easing (QE) programme and stronger US futures have hauled London into the blue. The central bank voted to pump an additional £25bn into the economy, taking QE to £200bn. It also kept interest rates at 0.5%. "The fact that the M
Read moreLondon midday: BoE expands QE programme
5th Nov 2009 10:41
London's top stocks are trading quietly after their initial fall as investors mull the Bank of England's decision to extend its quantitative easing programme by a further £25bn to £200bn. Telecoms group Cable & Wireless has dropped after it revived plans to split itself in to two parts. The announc
Read moreLondon open: Shares start lower
5th Nov 2009 08:17
London's top stocks opened lower in line with the weaker trend seen in the afternoon session on Wall Street and losses overnight on Asian markets. The market has much to occupy itself ahead of the announcement later today of the Bank of England's decision on whether to extend its quantitative easi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie on the back foot
5th Nov 2009 07:36
The blue-chip index is set to open in negative territory, following the weaker trend seen in the afternoon session on Wall Street and losses overnight on Asian markets. Traders expect the FTSE 100 to open around 42 points lower. The market has much to occupy itself ahead of the announcement later
Read moreCentrica and Drax in new supply deal
5th Nov 2009 07:00
Energy provider Centrica has extended its supply agreement with power station operator Drax. Drax has committed to supply power to Centrica at a price set with reference to international coal prices and agreed fixed clean dark spreads, while Centrica will deliver matching carbon (CO2) allowances.
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Home Retail, Drax, Carillion
22nd Oct 2009 06:00
Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos and Homebase, is well placed to benefit from a sustained upturn in consumer spending. When this comes, it represents a safe pair of retail hands in the long-term. The valuation remains a concern, but given that Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, is be
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes firmer
21st Oct 2009 16:57
After an up and down day, London's blue-chip index finished the day as it started it, in positive territory. Stocks needed the help of a firm start on Wall Street, however, to state a late rally. US shares opened higher after investment bank reported its first quarterly profit in a year after three
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners a drag
21st Oct 2009 14:38
Mining stocks and a couple of blue-chips going ex-dividend today pushed the Footsie below 5200 in the morning session though the index showed some signs of recovery over the lunch-time session. Smiths Group and BSkyB are the highest profile stocks in the red as a result of trading in ex-dividend st
Read moreLondon midday: Blue chips turn lower
21st Oct 2009 12:03
Footsie's early drift has given way to more substantial falls as US futures point to a lower opening on Wall Street. Smiths Group and BSkyB are the highest profile stocks in the red as a result of trading in ex-dividend status today. Also on the downturn is London Stock Exchange, after Goldman Sach
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start in London
21st Oct 2009 08:54
London's top stocks are moving sideways pretty much despite a late burst on Wall Street and better than expected results after hours from US web giant Yahoo! UK company news is less dramatic. Home Retail reported a 3% rise in half year sales and said trading at both Argos and Homebase exceeded its
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small gain expected
21st Oct 2009 07:35
London's top stocks are expected to open largely flat, with traders forecasting a 10 point gain for footsie. Home Retail reported a 3% rise in half year sales and said trading at both Argos and Homebase exceeded its expectations. Sales rose to £2,805m in the 26 weeks to 29 August from £2,736m, re
Read moreDrax on track, conditions remain challenging
21st Oct 2009 07:02
Power station operator Drax is trading in line with expectations for the current year but said conditions remain challenging. 'Since publishing our half year results on 4 August, trading conditions in the commodity markets in which we operate remain challenging,' said the group. 'However, given o
Read moreComment: The Post-Lehman Landscape
19th Sep 2009 11:53
This week marked the anniversary of the demise of US investment banking giant Lehman Brothers and the collapse of insurance behemoth AIG, two events that threatened to bring about the implosion of the world's financial system. Yet, here we are, a year later and the UK's major stock indices have stru
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