Fidessa warns of macro pressures
1st Nov 2011 09:14
Shares in trading systems developer Fidessa fell over 5% on Tuesday after the group warned that "macroeconomic uncertainty" will continue to affect end-markets. In the period from 1 July to date, Fidessa said that a number of smaller customers have either scaled back their operations or even closed
Read moreElevator man lifts BP stake again
23rd Sep 2011 15:45
Non-executive director George David has taken advantage of a fall in BP's share price to buy more shares in the company. He took 40,000 American Depositary Receipts (the equivalent of 240,000 shares) taking 20,000 at $35.55 (£23.04) a time and 20,000 at $35.45 a time. The shares have fallen sharpl
Read moreFidessa upbeat despite tough markets
1st Aug 2011 07:23
Trading systems developer Fidessa reported a robust interim performance, despite tough market conditions, and expects full year results to be broadly similar to those seen in the first half. Adjusted operating profit rose to £21.1m for the six months ended 30 June 2011 from £19.5m a year before. R
Read moreWeek Ahead: Banks, insurers, properties, base rates
29th Jul 2011 13:21
The end-quarter results season is fully in its stride, with trading updates expected from the high street banks, as well as reports from insurers and miners. On top of that, there are some heavy-duty economic announcements, in the form of interest rate decisions from the Bank of England and the Eu
Read moreSaudi businesswoman opens WPP account
7th Jun 2011 16:08
Non-executive director Lubna Olayan has opened her account in the advertising and marketing giant WPP. The Saudi businesswoman took 10,000 shares 738.5p a pop, paying a total of £73,850. Olayan, the daughter of entrepreneur Sulaiman Olayan, has been with WPP since 2005. In an update last week,
Read moreThursday tips round-up: BHP Billiton, RWS, Sports Direct
21st Apr 2011 06:34
So far, the Independent has been pretty bullish on the big diversified mining groups. BHP Billiton in particular has stood out, boasting not just an enviable exposure to key commodities such as iron ore and coal, but also one of the strongest balance sheets in the sector. BHP's balance sheet, and it
Read moreFidessa resilient despite challenges
20th Apr 2011 07:21
Trading systems developer Fidessa said it recorded good growth since the start of the year but warned that overall markets are still expected to remain difficult for 2011. "The challenges of uncertain regulation, macroeconomic environment and structural pressure remain within the financial communit
Read moreTechMARK movers: One buyer moves Parity
30th Mar 2011 12:55
One purchase late in the morning appears to be behind the rise in IT services and staff provider Parity. A buyer paid 28p a share for 17,723 shares at 11.23am. That is equivalent to an investment of around £5,000. There has been one trade each day so far this week. Human tissue services provider
Read moreUnited Utilities boss raises £588,000 from share sale
28th Mar 2011 16:48
United Utilities chief executive Philip Green has raised £588,000 by selling 100,000 shares. Green still has 116,384 shares. The shares that were sold for 588p each were owned by Green and his wife Judy, who no longer holds any shares. In February, Green received 136,607 shares from the company'
Read moreFidessa chairman reinvests past sale proceeds
10th Mar 2011 17:04
Fidessa chairman John Hamer has invested £327,000 in the financial software provider having sold shares last June for more than £3 a share less than his latest buying price. Hamer bought 20,000 shares at £16.35 each. This takes his stake to 35,594 shares. He has bought these shares early enough to
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: John Wood, Kazakhmys, Harvey Nash...
15th Feb 2011 06:45
There can be few cavils over the price that the board of John Wood Group has raised from the sale of its well support division. A net $2.6bn after tax, fees and expenses was significantly higher than the market had been expecting. Once the sale is completed and cash returned to shareholders, the sh
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for FTSE 100
14th Feb 2011 16:42
The top share index finished flat after a sluggish day's trading. Takeover talk pushed the price of engineering stalwarts Weir Group and Invensys higher, with engineering colossus Siemens said to have cash burning a hole in its pocket. The German company's chief financial officer, Joe Kaeser, sai
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Oil groups surge
14th Feb 2011 16:30
Oil groups Exillon Energy and Wood Group roared ahead, while sector peer Heritage Oil tops the fallers list. Exillon, the oil producer with assets in northern Russia and West Sibera, said that the estimate of proved (1P) reserves has increased by 40% to 112m barrels, while proved plus probable (2P)
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie in red despite miners
14th Feb 2011 14:29
Mining stocks are buoyant after China's economy grew 9.8% in the final quarter of 2010, but demand for miners has not prevented the blue-chip index from sliding into the red. Takeover talk is pushing the price of engineering stalwarts Weir Group and Invensys higher, with German engineering colossu
Read moreBroker tips: Diageo, Fidessa, Telecom Plus
14th Feb 2011 13:37
Charles Stanley stays with its 'accumulate' rating on beverage group Diageo and suggests that investors should use the recent weakness in the share price - following the results - as a buying opportunity. Although the results came in at the bottom range of expectations, the broker notes that Diageo
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