London 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 moreMan Group surprises itself
5th Nov 2009 07:27
Hedge fund manager Man Group has reported an interim profit of $302m, just half what it made a year earlier, but 8% better than the number it predicted little more than a month ago. In September's update, the company thought pre-tax profit would drop to $280m from $622m the year before. Net manag
Read moreThursday preview: Unilever, C&W, Man, BoE
4th Nov 2009 14:57
Food and household goods giant Unilever brings out quarterly results on Thursday. Nomura Securities is more optimistic than most of the stockbroking community: 'We are 7% ahead of consensus at the EBIT [earnings before interest and tax] level. Forecast volume growth of +3.3% (consensus +2.3%) with E
Read moreLondon close: Footsie down but above 5,000
3rd Nov 2009 16:24
London's blue chips ended off session lows and back above the 5,000 level, helped by positive reaction to announcements from Lloyds Banking and Legal & General. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) remained resolutely out of favour, however, as the market reacted negatively to the revised terms of its part
Read moreLondon afternoon: Market licking its wounds
3rd Nov 2009 14:11
The FTSE 100 index clawed its way back above the 5,000 level over the lunch-time session, helped by positive reaction to announcements from Lloyds Banking and Legal & General. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) remains resolutely out of favour, however, as the market reacted negatively to the revised ter
Read moreLondon midday: Retreat turns into a rout
3rd Nov 2009 12:08
The list of FTSE 100 constituents is bereft of risers, as stocks move swiftly into reverse while the market digests developments relating to the part-nationalised UK banks. The government is injecting another £25.5bn into Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), with a further £8bn available if things get wo
Read moreLondon close: Late swoon by Footsie
30th Oct 2009 16:52
Mining stocks proved a major millstone around Footsie's neck today while end of the month position closing also contributed to a fall of almost 2% on the blue-chip index, a decline that was mirrored on Wall Street. The US market gave back most of yesterday's gains in the morning session after US co
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners among the wounded
28th Oct 2009 15:37
The list of blue chip fallers is littered with miners as the dollar's ongoing recovery sends commodity prices lower. Xstrata, Lonmin, Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto are nursing losses, while a fall in oil prices towards $78 a barrel has hurt Petrofac, BP and Shell. Insurer Prudential fell as a 22% dive i
Read moreLondon close: Best finish in 12½ months
12th Oct 2009 16:48
UK share prices finished at their best levels in over a year Monday and, despite a few sellers appearing late on, the FTSE 100 ended the session above 5,200. Insurers Old Mutual, Standard Life and Legal & General were in demand all day. Rising stock markets are always good news for their investment
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Smiths Group, Man, FirstGroup
1st Oct 2009 05:53
Smiths says that it has felt a pick-up in some markets since the end of its financial year. Second, cost-saving measures, including tighter management of working capital, have done much to mitigate recession. It was relief that full-year profits were no worse that sent the shares up 6 per cent. But
Read moreLondon close: Best ever quarterly gain for Footsie
30th Sep 2009 17:00
Wall Street fell out of bed at the start of its trading day after the release of disappointing business activity data and London quickly followed the US market downwards. However, a rally in the last half hour ensured that the FTSE 100 enjoyed its best ever quarterly percentage gain since the index
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still lacking direction
30th Sep 2009 14:20
Footsie has continued its recent sluggish run, with company updates pulling the leading share index in both directions, but remains set for a record quarterly gain. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the in
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Man followers in happy mood
30th Sep 2009 14:19
Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the industry, the performance outlook is healthy and the prospects for sustained industry inflows are very promising," chief executive Peter Clarke said. Evolution Securit
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 on course for record quarter
30th Sep 2009 12:13
Footsie still looks on course for a record quarterly gain, but early strong rises have been whittled away ahead of the US open. Hedge fund manger Man is the best performer after a bullish trading update. "Investor sentiment is continuing to improve across the industry, the performance outlook is h
Read moreBroker tips: Man Group, Thomas Cook, ASOS
30th Sep 2009 11:46
Man Group's fan club was out in force after an upbeat trading statement from the hedge fund manager on Wednesday. Evolution Securities rates the shares a 'buy', taking the view that the worst is behind Man now, with funds under management growing and redemptions declining. 'We retain our buy recom
Read more