London afternoon: Banks bounce after Budget
24th Mar 2010 14:42
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has delivered his Budget speech and the net effect has been to leave the Footsie barely changed on the day. Banks seem to have been the major beneficiaries of the Chancellor's speech, with the absence of any bank bashing leading to firmer prices for part-nationalised
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie dips ahead of Budget
24th Mar 2010 11:49
Footsie has turned down ahead of the Budget as investors wait to see what new initiatives, if anything, chancellor Alistair Darling has to offer. While investors wait, there are plenty of company announcements to digest. Travel companies are doing well. TUI Travel noted a 'significant recovery in
Read moreLondon open: Early gains for blue chips
24th Mar 2010 08:39
Footsie has pushed on strongly after another day of big gains in the US yesterday. The Budget will dominate the headlines from lunchtime and banks are making progress in expectation that something will be said the government's stakes in the state-controlled banks, RBS and Lloyds. Foreign exchange
Read moreMan Group profit keeps shrinking
24th Mar 2010 07:49
Things didn't improve for hedge fund manager Man Group during the second half, leaving it facing a 57% slump in full year profit before one-off items. Profit before tax and $20m of exceptional costs for the year to 31 March is expected to be $530m following a second half profit of $238m, down fro
Read moreLondon close: Gains pared at the close
17th Mar 2010 16:48
London's gains were trimmed just before the close as traders took a few profits before heading off to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Nevertheless, it was the highest close for the Footsie since the middle of 2008. Mining stocks led the advance, despite conflicting views in the broking community on th
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: G4S slides for second day
17th Mar 2010 14:40
After being under the cosh yesterday following disappointing results security services group G4S has taken another battering today as rumours circulate that a massive placing of the company's shares is underway in the City. Around 141m shares have reportedly been placed by RBS at 250p per share. T
Read moreLondon afternoon: Brokers in miners disagreement
17th Mar 2010 14:29
A firm opening by Wall Street gave UK shares an additional fillip over the lunchtime trading session. Miners are leading the advance, despite conflicting views in the broking community on their merits. Societe Generale is in the bearish camp, cutting sector giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto from 'b
Read moreBroker tips: Kingfisher, Man Group, Hikma
17th Mar 2010 12:49
Hedge fund manager Man Group is comfortably the highest yielding stock among FTSE 100 constituents, but a rebasing - a City euphemism for a cut - of the dividend could be on the way, according to Morgan Stanley. The shares are currently yielding 11.77% based on historical dividend payments and thou
Read moreBroker snap: Man overboard on divi payments
17th Mar 2010 12:48
Hedge fund manager Man Group is comfortably the highest yielding stock among FTSE 100 constituents, but a rebasing - a City euphemism for a cut - of the dividend could be on the way, according to Morgan Stanley. The shares are currently yielding 11.77% based on historical dividend payments and thou
Read moreLondon midday: Arriva bid lifts mood
17th Mar 2010 12:02
London is now handily higher, with the strength of transport groups and miners cancelling out the subdued performance of ex-dividend stocks such as HSBC, Standard Life and Thomas Cook. The main point of interest is confirmation from bus and rail group Arriva that it has had an unsolicited bid appr
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Latin American hopes for SABMiller
27th Jan 2010 14:30
Shares remain lower and a rally in the FTSE 100 petered out at around lunch time. The index continues to drift downwards in the afternoon. Brokers UBS and Credit Suisse are both positive about brewer SABMiller. UBS highlights the long-term opportunities in the Latin American markets. UBS believes
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks stuck in reverse
27th Jan 2010 13:38
London's attempts at a rally fizzled out over the lunch time session though the Footsie is trying once more at the mid-afternoon point to climb the mountain. Mining stocks continue to impede the blue-chip index's progress, however, on enduring concerns that the Chinese authorities will introduce f
Read moreLondon midday: Miners pull blue chips lower
27th Jan 2010 12:02
Footsie is trying to rally after an early sell-off on fears that China is planning fiscal measures to cool growth. Mining stocks once again feature prominently among the laggards, with Xstrata, Fresnillo and Anglo American the worst hit. Mining giant Vedanta Resources is also lower despite seeing
Read moreLondon open: Ugly start in London
27th Jan 2010 08:52
It's an ugly start In London with only Johnson Matthey and Amec in the blue, while financials, miners and oils are under heavy selling pressure. Far East markets continued to fall Wednesday on continuing fears that China is planning fiscal measures to cool growth, adding to the unease this morning.
Read moreLondon close: Footsie follows US lower
15th Jan 2010 16:39
Footsie finished the week on a low as a poor performance in the US dragged the leading share index down in afternoon trading. US shares fell after consumer confidence rose less than expected in January. Here, Man Group was the heaviest faller after the hedge fund manager suffered a 4% drop in fund
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