Sector movers: Airlines surge, but stronger dollar knocks commodity stocks lower
4th Oct 2014 17:55
The outlook for the world's major economies may be diverging, but at least on Friday the price action at the sector level was very similar, over on Wall Street, across the Channel and in the UK. The upside was led by travel-related stocks on the top flight index, while mining, precious metals or bas
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends on a high after US employment figures deliver suprise
3rd Oct 2014 16:38
It was a positive finish to the week for the FTSE, as stocks rebounded from four straight days of declines as US employment data beats expectations. The FTSE 100 closed 81.52 points higher at 6,527.91, a drop of 123.25 on the week. US non-farm payrolls rose to beat forecasts and the jobless rate fe
Read moreSector movers: Precious metals miners boosted by lack of ECB decision
2nd Oct 2014 19:04
Shares of precious metals miners were the best performers on the market as risk aversion moved up a notch on the back of a disappointing press conference from European Central Bank president Mario Draghi. Though almost impossible to predict, the slightly late start to his speech already seemed to fo
Read moreLondon midday: BAE Systems leads gains on geopolitical worries
26th Sep 2014 12:14
The Footsie had reverted to positive higher by midday ahead of the release of two first-tier economic indicators in the States on Friday afternoon. UK equities traded lower throughout the better part of the morning, ignoring overnight losses in US markets which saw the Dow Jones Industrials and S&P
Read moreLondon open: Footsie slips as Russia threatens immediate retaliation
26th Sep 2014 08:54
The Footsie slipped quickly into the red after the start of trading on Friday, with US stocks having fallen deeper into the red for the month of September overnight amid on-going geopolitical concerns about both Russia and Iraq. Vladimir Putin has demanded that the European Union re-open a trade pac
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 declines as mining stocks fall on dollar advance
25th Sep 2014 17:14
teerngasLondon's top shares tumbled on Thursday as the rising dollar took its toll on mining and energy stocks. The FTSE 100 Index closed 66.56p points adrift at 6639.71 as the greenback bounced on speculation of monetary stimulus from the European Central Bank (ECB) and US interest rate hikes. Spe
Read moreLondon midday: Fresnillo and Rio Tinto gain
24th Sep 2014 12:31
The Footsie is holding slightly lower come midday with traders focusing on the ever present risk of something going amiss in a conflict and a weak reading on German business confidence weighing on sentiment. Overnight the US and its allies carried out a first wave of airstrikes against IS targets in
Read moreSector movers: Mining stocks track metal prices lower
19th Sep 2014 14:11
Mining stocks didnt join in with the post-Scottish referendum euphoria on Friday with share prices in the sector down an average 0.6% in afternoon trade. A broad sell-off of commodity prices was weighing on stocks during the session, with gold in particular trading near an eight-month low as the dol
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks rise as Scots vote 'no' to independence
19th Sep 2014 08:22
UK stocks staged a relief rally on Friday morning in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum, which saw people north of the border vote convincingly to remain part of the Union. Some 55.3% of Scots voted 'no' to independence from the UK while 44.7% voted 'yes', erasing concerns about a break-up whi
Read moreSector movers: Precious metal miners fall as gold sinks after FOMC
18th Sep 2014 14:11
Heavy falls in the prices of gold and silver saw precious metal miners drop on Thursday after the Federal Reserve lifted its outlook for interest rates. While the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday maintained its pledge to keep short-term interest rates near zero for a "considerable time" af
Read moreLondon midday: Scottish stocks lead gains ahead of crucial referendum
18th Sep 2014 11:43
After a slow start, London stocks advanced on Thursday with the FTSE 100 bouncing off its lowest levels in nearly a month, as companies based north of the border advanced with the focus firmly on the Scottish referendum. The benchmark Footsie index was trading 0.4% higher at 6,811 by noon. Three str
Read moreLondon open: FTSE fluctuates at one-month low as markets await Scottish vote
18th Sep 2014 08:31
UK stocks opened broadly flat on Thursday as investors digested comments from the Federal Reserve and showed caution ahead of the Scottish referendum. London's FTSE 100 was down 0.06% at 6,777 in early deals, fluctuating at its lowest levels in nearly a month. The index closed the previous session a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays jumps after appointing new chairman
12th Sep 2014 16:15
Barclays jumped on the news it has appointed John McFarlane as chairman to replace David Walker, who will step down following the bank’s annual general meeting in 2015. McFarlane, who is currently chairman of Aviva and FirstGroup, will take on the role on 1 January. Engineer GKN was boosted by
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain but Scottish uncertainty limits upside
12th Sep 2014 12:12
UK stocks were making gains on Friday as investors shrugged off weak construction data and picked up some bargains after equity markets hit a three-week low the previous session. London's FTSE 100, which has traded within a tight range for the whole week, was 0.2% higher at 6,815 by midday after clo
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks bounce off three-week low but gains limited
12th Sep 2014 08:51
UK stocks edged higher on Friday but choppy trading continued with investors concerned about the potential impact from a 'yes' vote on Scottish independence next week. Supermarket stocks were among the best performers as Morrisons extended gains made the previous session, while banks advanced, thoug
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