Firstgroup bus passengers still not benefiting from upturn
5th Nov 2014 07:48
Bus and train operator Firstgroup said Britain's much-vaunted economic upturn was still not filtering through to local bus travellers as it reported a hit to first half revenue from currency headwinds. Firstgroup said some local UK bus markets and its core US Greyhound long distance bus customers we
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Telecom Plus climbs as oil stocks slide
10th Oct 2014 15:13
Utility services group Telecom Plus said it is happy with market expectations for the full year after strong organic growth in the first half, causing shares to surge on Friday. The company said that the strong growth in both customers and service numbers seen at the start of the year accelerated in
Read moreFirstgroup set to bag extension to Great Western deal
10th Oct 2014 12:48
Train and bus operator Firstgroup is poised to win an uncontested three-and-a-half year extension of its First Great Western franchise, it said on Friday. The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to negotiate a "direct award" for the franchise, which runs trains between London Paddington, the Thames
Read moreLondon midday: Ebola fears, macro concerns hit UK stocks
8th Oct 2014 11:34
Fears about a possible Ebola outbreak in Europe and continued concerns about the global economy were weighing on UK stocks on Wednesday. The FTSE 100 was down 0.3% at 6,475 by around midday with cyclical stocks and airlines providing a drag. Risk appetite was also being held back by nervousness ahe
Read moreSentiment hit as Firstgroup loses Scotrail, but analysts stay upbeat
8th Oct 2014 10:58
Firstgroup's share price was dented on Wednesday by the transport group's failure to secure the Scotrail franchise for next year, though analysts mostly retained their positive stance on the stock despite the negative news. Investec kept a 'buy' rating but placed its 151p target price for the shares
Read moreLondon open: Macro concerns hit stocks ahead of earnings, Fed minutes
8th Oct 2014 08:36
UK stocks fell for a second day on Wednesday as concerns about global growth and nervousness ahead of the start of US earnings season eroded risk appetite. Heavy falls from industrial stocks and travel companies saw the FTSE 100 fall 0.3% to 6,475 in early trading. European stocks fell on Tuesday a
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to slide after heavy declines in Asia and US overnight
8th Oct 2014 07:43
Tracking the losses seen in both Asia and the States overnight, the FTSE will open Wednesday's session in the red, as markets digest the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) downgrade for global growth and notably poor data from Germany. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 27 points lo
Read moreFirstGroup loses Scotrail franchise "to Abellio" - UPDATE
8th Oct 2014 07:10
Bus and train operator FirstGroup has failed to keep its Scotrail franchise but said first half trading was in line with management's expectations and it was continuing to make progress with an overhaul of its bus business. FirstGroup said it "noted" the announcement by Transport Scotland that it ha
Read moreFirstgroup comments on McFarlane's departure to Barclays
12th Sep 2014 12:33
Firstgroup's chairman, John McFarlane, has announced that he plans to step down from the role in July next year as part of his move to Barclays. The group said it had begun the process of finding a "strong replacement". Shares in Firstgroup had fallen 0.61% to 122.45p by 12:44.
Read moreBAE Systems non-exec cashes in 50,000 shares
22nd Aug 2014 17:36
Paul Anderson, a non-executive director of aerospace, defence and securities giant BAE Systems, has cashed in 50,000 shares. The shares were sold at 442.2p each, giving the deal a total trade value of £221,100. The deal came just three weeks after the company posted lower half-year sales and pro
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ex-divi stocks and Balfour lead index lower
20th Aug 2014 13:57
Berkeley Group, Fidessa Group and Taylor Wimpey all dropped into the red after going ex-dividend on Wednesday. Balfour Beatty was in negative territory after rejecting another merger offer from rival Carillion, saying such a move would not be in shareholders' best interest. Tuesday's offer was the
Read moreFirstGroup shortlisted for TransPennine Express franchise
19th Aug 2014 07:58
FirstGroup has confirmed it has been shortlisted to extend its operation of the TransPennine Express franchise in the north of England and cross-border services to Scotland, which it has run since 2004. The current First TransPennine Express franchise is due to end on 31 March 2015 and the company
Read moreLondon close: FTSE in red as housing data, Russia weigh
21st Jul 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 21 at 6,728.44 - Ukraine, Gaza driving losses - Housing sector weighs after data techMARK 2,801.01 -0.10% FTSE 100 6,728.44 -0.31% FTSE 250 15,486.10 -0.45% Global tensions and disappointing housing data weighed on sentiment in today's session, with the footsie falling early on
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Hochschild lifted by rating, Bellway falls
21st Jul 2014 15:32
Housebuilder Bellway was lower amid a wider sector decline after Rightmove published data that showed the average asking price for a UK home dropped 0.8% from £272,275 in June to £270,159 in July. The also had its 'hold' rating reiterated by Deutsche Bank. Oil stocks including Cairn Energy weake
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Time Warner, Shire, BMW...
17th Jul 2014 06:47
21st Century Fox, the entertainment conglomerate run by Rupert Murdoch, may have to raise its audacious $80 billion bid for Time Warner to secure the biggest media takeover since the dot-com boom. 21st Century Fox offered $86 per share in cash and shares for its rival but the approach was rejected b
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