London midday: OfWat report dilutes equity strength
23rd Jul 2009 11:54
The Footsie's eight day winning streak is in danger of coming to an end today as utility companies weigh down the blue-chip index after water regulator Ofwat outlined proposals for lower water bills. The water regulator's draft proposals would see the average annual water bill fall by £14 to £330 b
Read moreLondon open: Water groups fall
23rd Jul 2009 08:17
London's top stocks have opened slightly lower, with utilities among the main fallers after Ofwat called for lower water bills. The water regulator outlined proposals that would see the average water bill fall by £14 to £330 before inflation between 2010 and 2015. United Utilities is leading the fa
Read moreLondon pre-open: More gains expected
23rd Jul 2009 07:43
Footsie is expected to continue its winning streak to move past 4,500 points as investors digest a stream of company updates. Bus and rail group National Express confirmed that it has received a second approach after rival FirstGroup walked away from a possible deal last night. "The group received
Read moreNational Express gets new approach
23rd Jul 2009 07:17
Bus and rail group National Express confirmed that it has received a second bid approach after rival FirstGroup walked away from a possible deal last night. National Express did not name the potential suitor, but the Times is reporting that Stagecoach was named by transport industry sources as the
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Stagecoach, GSK, Water groups
23rd Jul 2009 06:16
Stagecoach, the bus and train operator, was linked with a takeover bid for its crisis-hit rival National Express last night as FirstGroup, a third competitor, walked away from a possible deal, says the Times. GSK, Britain's largest pharmaceuticals company, could make up to £1bn from sales of its s
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Tesco may bid for Northern Rock
1st Jul 2009 06:19
Tesco has emerged as a potential bidder for Northern Rock as the Government races to sell the state-owned lender before a general election, The Times has learnt. The supermarket chain has shown provisional interest in buying the bank nationalised as the credit crisis brought the financial system wi
Read moreLondon close: US economic data hits Footsie
30th Jun 2009 16:26
It looked like another flat day for the FTSE 100 heading into the second half of the year until shares took a sharp dive following some unappetizing economic date in the US. The US Conference Board's index of consumer sentiment fell to 49.3 in June, down from a revised 54.8 in May. Economists had b
Read moreLondon afternoon: Prices drift lower
30th Jun 2009 15:24
London continues to sleepwalk to the end of the month, with prices drifting lower in light trading after Wall Street opened in negative territory. With the oil futures contract edging steadily higher, heavy fuel users such as airline British Airways and cruise operator Carnival are on the slide. I
Read moreLondon midday: Marking time
30th Jun 2009 12:10
Leading equities are treading water on the last day of the month, quarter and half-year. Wolseley is one of the best performers after chief executive Chip Hornsby stepped down with immediate effect to let Ian Meakins take the helm at the building supplies group. Hornsby, who leaves after 27 years
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Yell refinancing talks spook investors
30th Jun 2009 10:54
Shares in Yell have fallen 10% after the Yellow Pages publisher said it has started talks with its banks over a comprehensive refinancing, adding that trading in the second quarter of this year took another lurch downwards. Carpetright is down after it slashed its final dividend as profits tumbled
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, Candover
30th Jun 2009 06:13
Neelie Kroes, the European Union competition commissioner, is on Tuesday set to warn UK banks for a second time within a week that they may have to make disposals as a condition for the granting of state aid. Ms Kroes's tough message to the British Bankers' Association conference emphasises the ha
Read moreLondon close: Late gains lift Footsie
29th Jun 2009 16:50
After a rather sluggish start to the day, Footsie ended with chunky gains, helped by buoyancy on Wall Street. Lloyds Banking topped the list of risers after Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the shares from "neutral" to "buy" and added them to its "conviction buy" list. Goldman Sachs has also lif
Read moreLondon afternoon: Financials spearhead the advance
29th Jun 2009 14:21
Banks and insurers lead the way as London continues its steady advance. Lloyds Banking tops the list of risers after Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the shares from "neutral" to "buy" and added them to its "Conviction Buy" list. Goldman Sachs has also lifted its target price from 61p to 107p, af
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, Admiral, National Express
29th Jun 2009 12:53
US bank Goldman Sachs has added part-nationalised British bank Lloyds Banking Group to its conviction buy list, claiming Lloyds shares represent the cheapest option among the major large-cap European banks. Goldman Sachs has upgraded Lloyds from "neutral" to "buy", going against the trend of most i
Read moreLondon midday: Lloyds leads banks higher
29th Jun 2009 11:51
Risers outnumber fallers by around three to one among Footsie constituents, as the index pushes ahead despite weakness among miners. Lloyds Banking tops the list of risers after Goldman Sachs raised its rating on the shares from "neutral" to "buy" and added them to its "Conviction Buy" list. Goldm
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