FTSE 100 movers: Kingfisher and Centrica boosted by disposals as miners dip
22nd Dec 2014 14:32
Home improvement retailer Kingfisher edged higher after agreeing to sell a controlling 70% stake in its B&Q China business to Wumei Holdings for £140m. "I am delighted to have found a strong retail partner who will help us to release the financial value of our business in China," said new boss Véron
Read moreLondon midday: Markets quiet ahead of Christmas but stocks extend gains
22nd Dec 2014 11:35
UK stocks were set to hit a two-week high on Monday as the 'Santa Rally' continued into its fifth straight day, with energy shares providing a boost on a continued rebound in crude prices. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 6,597 by around midday. It has not closed above this mark since 8 December. "
Read moreLondon open: Late Santa Rally puts UK stocks on track for two-week high
22nd Dec 2014 08:48
UK stocks rose for the fifth straight session on Monday and were set to hit a two-week high with the so-called 'Santa Rally' finally taking hold ahead of a shortened trading week. London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.8% higher at 6,598 in early deals. It has not closed above this mark since 8 December.
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks extend slide as Chinese data disappoints
16th Dec 2014 08:20
Yet more disappointing economic data from China pushed UK stocks lower for the seventh straight session on Tuesday, with markets extending losses despite plunging to an 18-month low the previous session. Not even the news that the Bank of England (BoE) has given a clean bill of health to seven out o
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners sink while oil companies recover slightly
15th Dec 2014 14:48
Anglo-Australian miner BHP Billiton dipped following a downgrade at RBC Capital Markets to 'underperform' from 'sector-perform'. Other mining companies, including Fresnillo, Randgold Resources and Glencore, were also hit by a forecast of an extended period of low iron ore prices, due to over-supply
Read moreLondon close: Markets extend losing streak as miners fall
11th Dec 2014 16:23
London's stock market declined for the fourth straight day on Thursday as ongoing concerns about global growth and heavy falls in the mining sector erased earlier gains. The FTSE 100 finished 0.6% lower at 6,462, closing at its lowest level since 4 November when it settled at 6,453.97. Mining stock
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Travel companies soar as miners sink
11th Dec 2014 16:21
Travel companies Easyjet and International Consolidated Airlines Group were boosted by the fall in oil prices, on hopes that lower fuel costs will boost profitability. Dixons Carphone was also among the risers after it emerged earlier this week that it surpassed its Christmas store opening targets.
Read moreSector movers: Mining stocks sink as markets extend drop
11th Dec 2014 14:31
Not even the hope of more stimulus in China could help mining stocks on Thursday, as shares in the sector tanked on the back of global slowdown concerns. Miners were bearing the brunt of the fourth day of losses for London's equity market after the news that banks took up fewer-than-expected loans f
Read moreLondon midday: Mining stocks drag markets lower on ECB loan disappointment
11th Dec 2014 12:06
UK stocks retreated into the red after a positive start on Thursday as renewed concerns about the health of the Eurozone pressured mining stocks lower. Markets had edged higher early on after finishing the previous session at a five-week low, but gains were quickly erased after it was revealed that
Read moreSector movers: Mining and oil stocks drop as ECB holds off on stimulus
4th Dec 2014 15:09
Cyclical sectors such as mining and oil were the worst performers of the day on Thursday as the wider stock market weakened in the absence of stimulus measures from the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB held off from making a move at its meeting, saying instead that it would look at injecting sti
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Mining and telecom stocks on the rise
26th Nov 2014 15:29
MIning stocks were leading the risers on the FTSE 100 on Wednesday, rebounding after recent declines. Antofagasta topped the list, rising 3.7%, with peers Anglo American, Fresnillo and Randgold also registering decent gains. BT Group was continuing to rise after saying that it was in talks with vari
Read moreLondon open: Oil and mining stocks limit gains on FTSE
25th Nov 2014 08:22
Falling oil and mining stocks and a poorly-received update from Kingfisher were limiting gains on the FTSE 100 on Tuesday morning, as investors awaited a wave of global economic data. London's benchmark index was trading just 0.1% higher at 6,737 within the opening hour. The Footsie had dropped 0.3
Read moreLondon close: Hopes of Chinese and European economic stimulus lift stocks
21st Nov 2014 16:17
A surprise cut in Chinese interest rates and hints about quantitative easing in Europe put London traders in a bullish mood on Friday. The People's Bank of China cheered markets by reducing its one-year benchmark lending rate by 40 basis points to 5.6% to lift an economy on course for its slowest an
Read moreSector movers: Mining stocks rally on Chinese stimulus, but defensives fall
21st Nov 2014 15:20
A surprise interest-rate cut in China saw equity markets surge on Friday with cyclical mining stocks benefiting and defensive stocks feeling the brunt from an increase in risk appetite. Cyclical sectors are those that are closely and positively correlated to economic activity and, in the case of the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners jump as China cuts interest rates, oil stocks rise
21st Nov 2014 15:03
Mining stocks were dominating the risers list on the FTSE 100 on Friday after China's central bank surprised with an interest-rate cut in an effort to boost growth, raising hopes that the top metals consumer will be able to avert a hard landing. Anglo American, Fresnillo, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, An
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