London afternoon: Shire provides some cheer
30th Oct 2009 14:19
Footsie dipped into the red over the lunch-time session, as Wall Street opened lower. Metal prices are in retreat, prompting investors to bail out of mining stocks, including precious metals miners such as Fresnillo and Randgold. Among base metal miners, Kazakhmys and Lonmin are the worst perform
Read moreLondon midday: Retailers lifted by consumer confidence
30th Oct 2009 12:12
Insurers and miners are hampering the Footsie's progress today, but outside of these two sectors most blue-chips are on an upward trajectory, helped by some decent news on the economy. Economic data released Friday shows that UK consumers are more confident now than at any time in the last 21 mont
Read moreLondon open: Upbeat start for Footsie
30th Oct 2009 08:18
London's blue chips have opened higher thanks to upbeat economic and company news out this morning. Economic data released Friday shows that UK consumers are more confident now than at any time in the last 21 months. The GfK/NOP consumer confidence index improved to -13 in October, the best number
Read moreFerrexpo to pay dividend as outlook brightens
30th Oct 2009 07:38
Iron ore producer Ferrexpo has announced that it will pay an interim dividend of 3.3 cents a share, having deferred the decision when it delivered interim results in August due to market uncertainty. Ferrexpo has been hit hard by the downturn in commodity prices, but said this morning that its cash
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Enterprise Inns loses fizz
28th Oct 2009 13:28
Last week, investors were raising a glass to Enterprise Inns after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) rejected a complaint by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) blaming the system which forces pub tenants to buy beer from their landlords for the high cost of a pint. With Enterprise's shares among the
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: SSL, Inmarsat, Booker
14th Oct 2009 06:45
Scholl to Durex group SSL is well run and M&A activity will drive the shares. The stock is pricey, though, trading on a forward price-earnings ratio of 15 times and offering a dividend yield of just 1.6%. Wait for some softening before buying suggests the Independent. Hold. SSL's valuation is quite
Read moreLondon close: Retailers weigh on Footsie
13th Oct 2009 16:46
A poor performance from US shares dragged Footsie into the red and the leading index finished the day with substantial losses. Retailers were out of sorts despite some moderately optimistic news from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) concerning retail sales. The BRC said annual retail sales growt
Read moreLondon afternoon: Retailers sag after sales data
13th Oct 2009 14:26
Leading shares remain mixed, with the Footsie easing back into the red over the lunchtime session. Retailers are out of sorts despite some moderately optimistic news from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) concerning retail sales. The BRC said annual retail sales growth in September accelerated to
Read moreLondon midday: Looking for direction
13th Oct 2009 12:14
The Footsie has crawled into positive territory, helped by miners recovering from their weak opening. Kazakhmys is the pick of the sector after revealing it is in talks with the China Development Bank and JSC Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna regarding a potential corporate loan facility of aroun
Read moreFerrexpo enjoys better Q3
13th Oct 2009 07:27
Ukrainian iron ore producer Ferrexpo had a strong third quarter, producing at full capacity through the period and increasing 65% Fe pellet output as demand improves. The firm, which saw profits slide 82% in the first half of 2009, said iron pellet production from its own raw materials rose by 0.3%
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Carillion falls after fine
22nd Sep 2009 11:21
Engineering and construction contractor Carillion is among the heaviest fallers in the mid-cap index after it was fined £5.3m by the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) after a four-year investigation into collusion and price-fixing in the building industry. Carillion pointed out that the fine relates to
Read moreSector movers: Miners fall as markets plunge
17th Aug 2009 12:38
Mining stocks are in the firing line as markets plummet around the world and commodity prices slide. Among the heaviest fallers in the large-cap index are Xstrata, Anglo American and Rio Tinto. Copper prices fell back after stockpiles monitored by the London Metal Exchange rose again. Precious me
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Tomkins shrugs off divi cut
13th Aug 2009 14:13
Engineer Tomkins has cut its dividend after it swung to a half year loss, but the firm says the rate of deterioration has slowed and its shares are higher. Conversely, shares in Interserve fall back after the services, maintenance and building group was named preferred bidder for a £60m Thames Wate
Read moreLondon close: Stocks pushed lower
5th Aug 2009 17:00
London's top stocks finished in the red as a poor start in the US and ex-dividends eventually ate into the early gains. US shares made a dull start on worse than expected job losses in July according to the private firm ADP. It said 371,000 people were laid-off compared to estimates of 350,000. L
Read moreLondon afternoon: Blue chips hang onto gains
5th Aug 2009 14:27
Footsie is holding its own in the afternoon session with Lloyds soaring despite a massive interim loss. US shares have made a dull start on worse than expected job losses in July according to the private firm ADP. It said 371,000 people were laid-off compared to estimates of 350,000. The survey is
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