London open: FTSE pulls back from all-time high as mining stocks decline
13th Apr 2015 08:22
London's FTSE 100 retreated from a fresh record on Monday morning as investors took profits ahead of a busy week for global financial markets, with shares in the mining sector in particular under pressure. The Footsie was trading 0.24% lower at 7,072.78 early on after settling at a new all-time clos
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks shrug off weak data as FTSE closes in on new record
10th Apr 2015 11:44
Weaker-than-expected UK data wasn't enough to stop shares from advancing on Friday, as decent gains in the housebuilding sector pushed the FTSE 100 back towards its record high. The Footsie was up 0.36% at 7,040.54 by midday. The index's previous closing high of 7,037.67 was set on 23 March, while
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks near record highs as housebuilders rise
10th Apr 2015 08:33
UK stocks were on track to hit a new record on Friday, helped by strong gains in the housebuilding sector. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.46% at 7,047.39 shortly after the open. The index's previous closing high of 7,037.67 was set on 23 March, while the intraday record of 7,065.08 was set on 24 March.
Read moreGlencore to close Singapore coal desk, consolidate Australian operations
10th Apr 2015 07:34
Glencore will be closing its Singapore coal sales desk in favour of consolidating its Australian business, the company confirmed on Friday. In its submission to an Australian senate hearing, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal said it was integrating the operations of Xstrata's coal sales a
Read moreLondon open: Miners fall, but UK markets track US and Hong Kong stocks higher
9th Apr 2015 08:57
UK stocks advanced on Thursday morning following a decent performance on Wall Street and Hong Kong indices overnight. Reports that Greece will meet Thursday's deadline to pay back a €450m loan payment to the International Monetary Fund were also helping sentiment. "The payment has been scheduled and
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: FOMC minutes, Glencore/Rio Tinto, Greece
9th Apr 2015 07:16
Minutes from the latest FOMC meeting released on Wednesday showed that policymakers were split several ways over when to start tightening monetary policy, the Financial Times said. Some suggested a hike as soon as June, while others preferred waiting until later this year or into 2016. Australian tr
Read moreLondon close: Stocks drop into the red as M&A fever fails to sustain optimism
8th Apr 2015 17:03
The M&A fever that sent UK markets higher on Wednesday morning fizzled out towards the end of the day, with the FTSE 100 dropping into the red by the close. BG Group, which had soared as much as 40% early on, pared gains to finish 26.7% higher after the natural gas outfit recommended a £47bn takeove
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Glencore, Rio Tinto, BCA
8th Apr 2015 15:20
Analysts are wary regarding the prospects for a Glencore bid for Rio Tinto emerging any time soon and for good reason. For one thing, over the last six months shares in the latter have performed rather better. That means that for Glencore issuing new shares now, to finance a purchase, would be more
Read moreSector Movers: Mining, oil stocks recover from pre-Easter slump
7th Apr 2015 12:51
Natural resources shares led the London market with mining companies reversing pre-Easter declines in the first day of trading after the festive period. At 15:55 BST on Tuesday, the FTSE 100 was trading up 1.93% or 131.79 points at 6965.25. Mining companies lifted the market, being among the best pe
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks surge on Fed rate-hike delay speculation
7th Apr 2015 08:42
UK stock markets were doing their best to play catch-up on Tuesday morning as investor risk appetite returned after the four-day weekend. London's FTSE 100 was up 1.15% at 6,911.92 in early trading. The Easter weekend has worked wonders for the markets, with the European indices looking reinvigorat
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&S surges on growth, miners lower
2nd Apr 2015 14:54
Marks & Spencer topped the risers as it delivered its first growth from clothing and general merchandise (GM) for 14 quarters, with like-for-like sales unexpectedly rising 0.7% in both clothing and food. The market had been expecting GM sales to fall and food to be flattish. Imperial Tobacco continu
Read moreSector Movers: Consumables lead FTSE 100 higher on a dire day for miners
2nd Apr 2015 11:45
Consumables related stocks kept the FTSE 100 firmly in the green on Thursday as miners endured a pummelling from investors. At 15:50 the FTSE 100 was trading up 0.38% or 25.69 points at 6835.19 led higher by food and beverage stocks. Coca Cola HBC (up 3.85%) and Marks & Spencer (up 3.68%) topped the
Read moreIron ore prices slump to 10-year low, mining stocks pummelled
2nd Apr 2015 09:26
The price of iron ore has plunged below $50 per metric tonne for the first time in over 10 years, as oversupply and lacklustre Chinese demand continue to hound the market. Nearing the close of Asian trading on Thursday, benchmark iron ore for immediate delivery ex-Tianjin, China was trading down 3.9
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Shell boosted by Alaskan exploration approval, banks higher
1st Apr 2015 13:19
Oil major Shell was making gains after being given the green light by the US government to restart an exploration campaign in the Alaskan Arctic. Imperial Tobacco rebounded from Tuesday's losses, which were driven by concerns that the Lorrillard-Reynolds merger will fall apart. Banks such as Barcla
Read moreJPMorgan cuts mining forecasts on further demand weakness in Q2
1st Apr 2015 10:01
JPMorgan Cazenove has reduced target prices across the UK mining sector after lowering its commodity forecasts, predicting further demand weakness in the second quarter. The demand for base metals in China was weaker than predicted in January and the robust pick-up post Chinese New Year that many ha
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