Sector movers: Miners lead the charge
23rd Nov 2009 11:18
Mining stocks are at the forefront of today's equity advance as metal prices continue rallying. Once again, gold has hit a new record as investors seek shelter from the falling dollar. Copper has reached a 14-month high. Precious metals stocks are also shining, with platinum group Lonmin, silver
Read moreLondon afternoon: Equities drift lower
20th Nov 2009 22:49
Around two thirds of the Footsie's constituents are in the red today as the blue-chip index looks set to finish the week lower than it started it. US bank Morgan Stanley has rained on the parade of package tour operators Thomas Cook and TUI Travel. The bank has cut its rating on both stocks, prompt
Read moreLondon close: Volatile Footsie closes lower
20th Nov 2009 16:34
Footsie ended slightly in the red after a topsy-turvy day which saw UK shares at the mercy of the US dollar. Shares in miner Antofagasta resumed their position near the top of the leaderboard after a brief dip into negative territory that came as commodity prices slipped in line with strength in th
Read moreLondon midday: Holiday firms in the shade
20th Nov 2009 12:11
Leading shares lack direction, with Footsie's early advance turning into a retreat, as early gains on mining stocks are pared. The outlook for package tour operators Thomas Cook and TUI Travel is as miserable as London's weather, according to US bank Morgan Stanley, which has cut its rating on both
Read moreSector movers: SABMiller adds fizz to drinks sector
19th Nov 2009 13:26
The beverages sector is fizzing after SABMiller, the brewer behind such brands as Miller Genuine Draft and Peroni, posted interim profits ahead of expectations. Lager volumes were down by 1% due mainly to weakness in developed markets, but SABMiller managed to offset this by lifting prices. With
Read moreLondon open: Miners lead Footsie lower
19th Nov 2009 08:19
Miners are leading London's top stocks lower in early dealings on Thursday, while investors also have a stream of company updates to consider. Nine out of the ten worst performers are miners. Fresnillo, Xstrata, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources,
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for FTSE 100
18th Nov 2009 16:33
There was no shortage of market moving news today, but with stocks moving in both directions, Footsie finished little changed. It was day for high profile board room appointments, with the share prices of Marks & Spencer and ITV both responding well to an end to uncertainty over leadership issues.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Hershey & Ferrero size up Cadbury
18th Nov 2009 14:05
It has been a day for high profile board room appointments, with the share prices of Marks & Spencer and ITV both responding well to an end to uncertainty over leadership issues. Retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has poached Marc Bolland, chief executive of supermarket chain Morrisons, to be its new b
Read moreLondon midday: Market cheers M&S appointment
18th Nov 2009 12:02
Retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) moved to the top of the news agenda this morning after it announced it has poached Marc Bolland, chief executive of supermarket chain Morrisons, to be its new boss. While Marks & Spencer's shares responded positively to the appointment, shares in Morrisons fell back o
Read moreLondon open: Early gains for Footsie
18th Nov 2009 08:48
London's top stocks have opened higher following yesterday's drop, which brought a 4-day winning streak to an end. Troubled broadcaster ITV has confirmed the appointment of former Tory party MP Archie Norman as its new non-executive Chairman. He will take up the role in January 2010, when current e
Read moreLondon close: Profit taking trims gains
11th Nov 2009 17:12
Better than expected unemployment figures and some relatively upbeat comments from Bank of England governor Mervyn King propelled Footsie to a new intra-day high for 2009 in the morning session, but stocks came off the top in the afternoon session. The UK unemployment rate, as measured by the Inter
Read moreLondon afternoon: Share prices froth over
11th Nov 2009 14:12
Share prices are coming off the top, though Footsie remains comfortably in positive territory thanks to strong demand for miners and insurers. Miners are wanted as metal prices pick up following news that Chinese industrial output rose to a 19-month high in October. BHP Billiton, Kazakhmys, Rio Ti
Read moreSector movers: Miners on the march
11th Nov 2009 14:02
Strong metals prices are lifting mining stocks higher. Randgold Resources rebounds after falling yesterday on the back of third quarter production figures that failed to please the market. It is pipped to the top spot by Fresnillo, which mines for silver in Mexico. Meanwhile, industrial metals f
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie hits intra-day high for 2009
11th Nov 2009 12:15
The Footsie is hovering around its high for the year of 5300, after better than expected UK unemployment figures. Sentiment was little affected by Bank of England governor Mervyn King saying he thinks inflation will rise above the 2% target set by the government as the impact of quantitative easi
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for FTSE 100
10th Nov 2009 16:29
Footsie finished slightly in the red having failed to find any sense of direction all day as results sent stocks in both directions. Banking titan HSBC climbed after it said underlying third quarter profit was "significantly" ahead of the same time last year. It's also seeing some stabilisation in
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