London midday: Equities mark time
30th Mar 2010 12:01
Footsie finished the morning little changed despite a strong showing from the mining sector. Mining giant BHP Billiton is higher after saying it has successfully persuaded several of its iron ore customers in Asia to move to shorter term contracts. The renegotiated contracts cover the majority of B
Read moreLondon close: Further boost for shares
23rd Mar 2010 16:43
Rising commodity prices, US strength and some well-received company updates sent London to a fresh 21-month closing high Tuesday. The leading index hasn't finished up at this level since 19 June 2008 and is just one decent session away from breaking through 5,700. Cairn Energy was easily the most
Read moreLondon afternoon: Full steam ahead for Carnival
23rd Mar 2010 14:15
London's leading shares consolidated gains over the lunch-time trading session after notching up solid gains in the morning. Cairn Energy remains the stand-out performer among blue-chips by some distance. The oil group raised its forecast for peak production from its Indian assets by over a third t
Read moreSector movers: Ferrexpo lifts metals sector
23rd Mar 2010 12:44
The industrial metals and mining sector is higher after a well received update from Ferrexpo. The iron ore producer saw earnings slump in 2009 as demand for iron ore remained poor until the final quarter of the year. Also in the sector, First Quantum Minerals is flat. The miner saw better than exp
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Profit warning floors Carpetright
23rd Mar 2010 12:43
Shares in Carpetright have fallen through the floor. The retailer of carpet and floor coverings retailer said the rate of recovery seen towards the end of 2009 has not been sustained and group profits for the year to 1 May 2010 are likely to fall below current market expectations. Investors are a
Read more2010 outlook more positive for Ferrexpo
23rd Mar 2010 08:35
Iron ore producer Ferrexpo saw earnings slump in 2009 as demand for iron ore remained poor until the final quarter of the year. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in 2009 tumbled to $138.1m from $503.9m the year before, while profit before tax collapsed to $80.85m from $3
Read moreLondon close: Footsie follows US lower
15th Jan 2010 16:39
Footsie finished the week on a low as a poor performance in the US dragged the leading share index down in afternoon trading. US shares fell after consumer confidence rose less than expected in January. Here, Man Group was the heaviest faller after the hedge fund manager suffered a 4% drop in fund
Read moreLondon afternoon: Flat Footsie
15th Jan 2010 14:27
The blue-chip index is treading water, though there has been some keen interest in the day's big results announcements. Man Group is sharply lower after the hedge fund manager suffered a 4% drop in funds under management during the third quarter, mainly due to the $1.2bn pulled out of its flagship
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Retail weakness continues
15th Jan 2010 12:43
Retailers are still left on the shelf following some cautious trading updates from the sector earlier this week Music, books and films retailer HMV, bike and car parts chain Halfords, and department store group Debenhams, all of which issued Christmas trading statements this week, are in the red.
Read moreLondon midday: Leading shares ease back
15th Jan 2010 12:28
Leading shares are mixed, with the FTSE 100 dipping into negative territory after JP Morgan issued a mixed set of figures. The US banking titan's bottom line was healthier than expected, with fourth quarter earnings per share of 74 cents versus expectations of 60 cents, but net revenues of $25.2bn w
Read moreFerrexpo finishes 2009 on a high note
15th Jan 2010 08:46
Iron ore producer Ferrexo saved the best to last in 2009, with output in the fourth quarter being the best of the year. Pellets produced from the company’s own materials totalled 2.24m tonnes in the fourth quarter, up 21.7% on output in the final quarter of 2008 but down slightly on the 2.25m tonne
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ferrexpo slips back
6th Jan 2010 11:44
Shares in iron ore producer Ferrexpo have been performing well lately but the shares are lower today. The share price of Gem Diamonds has also lost a bit of sparkle today. Engineering stocks are in demand, with Cookson Group and Atkins among the risers. FTSE 250 - Risers Interserve (IRV) 207.50p
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: North Sea deal lifts Premier Oil
5th Jan 2010 12:35
Premier Oil gushes higher after reaching an agreement that will lift its drilling activities. It has agreed with Serica Energy that it will farm in to a 50% equity interest and assume operatorship of Block 22/19c in the UK Central North Sea. Iron ore producer Ferrexpo, which posted strong gains ye
Read moreSector movers: Commodities boost industrial metals stocks
4th Jan 2010 11:43
Higher metals prices give industrial metals stocks a lift. International Ferro Metals and Ferrexpo are among the stocks posting good gains. With shares starting the year on a strong footing overall, defensive stocks such as the tobacco giants British American and Imperial are unwanted. Top perform
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Shanks soars on Carlyle approach
7th Dec 2009 11:12
Shanks is by far and away the standout stock in the mid-cap index after the waste management firm said it had received a 135p a share takeover approach from a private equity group. The approach - thought to have been made by the US group Carlyle - would be worth £536, but Shanks is holding out for
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