London open: Stocks slip on mixed earnings, Fresnillo and L&G drop
4th Mar 2015 08:23
UK stocks edged lower on Wednesday morning as gains from Standard Chartered and ITV were offset by declines by Fresnillo, Glencore and Legal & General, as investors awaited a barrage of economic data. Following a brief spell in positive territory, the FTSE 100 had fallen 0.2% to 6,875.90 after the f
Read moreLondon close: Mixed data, weak earnings pull FTSE below 6,900
3rd Mar 2015 16:33
A mixed batch of economic data and weak corporate earnings gave investors the excuse to take profits on Tuesday, as markets continued to retreat from their recent record highs. London's FTSE 100, which had started the day in positive territory, swung sharply into the red by mid-morning and extended
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays and Glencore fall after annual results, Taylor Wimpey higher
3rd Mar 2015 13:44
Shares in Barclays fell after the bank set aside a total of £1.25bn for provisions to cover litigation costs related to ongoing probes into mis-selling PPI and rigging foreign exchange rates. The news came as Barclays reported a pre-tax loss of £532m for the fourth quarter. Commodities trader and mi
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pull back as corporate earnings disappoint
3rd Mar 2015 12:08
After coming close to another record high early on, UK stocks flatlined by Tuesday lunchtime as corporate earnings received a cool reaction from investors. The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 6,934.70 by midday, pulling back after reaching a high of 6,963.55 early on as Barclays, Glencore, Ashtead and Tra
Read moreLondon open: Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead drive markets higher, Barclays falls
3rd Mar 2015 09:11
The FTSE 100 was closing in on another record high on Tuesday morning as impressive German data and gains from Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead helped markets higher. However, upside was limited as Barclays and Travis Perkins underwhelmed with their annual results, while the heavyweight mining sector inche
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start expected after record close on Wall Street
3rd Mar 2015 07:50
UK stocks are expected to open with modest gains on Tuesday following a decent performance on Wall Street the night before, as investors watch corporate earnings on a quiet day for economic data. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 10 points higher than Monday's close of 6,940.64. Both the
Read moreGlencore slashes 2015 capex budget as annual profits slip 2%
3rd Mar 2015 06:52
Commodities trader and mining group Glencore managed to meet City expectations with a small decline in operating profits in 2014 as strong earnings growth in its marketing division was outweighed by falling prices dragging on its industrial business. The results came as the company slashed its inves
Read moreLondon close: FTSE pulls back from record as miners dip into the red
2nd Mar 2015 16:37
UK stocks inched lower on Monday after hitting a new intraday record high during the session as markets were underwhelmed by a raft of positive manufacturing data and a rate cut in China. London's FTSE 100, which rose to a new all-time peak of 6,974.26 early on, finished 6.02 points lower (-0.09%) a
Read moreSector movers: Miners fall as PBOC rate cut underwhelms
2nd Mar 2015 15:37
Mining stocks declined on Monday as investors shrugged off some improving economic data from top metals user China and a rate cut by its central bank in an attempt to boost growth. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point for the second time in three month
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks hit new record high on China rate cut
2nd Mar 2015 08:52
UK stocks rose modestly to a new record high on Monday morning on the back of gains in the banking and mining sectors, tracking a strong performance on Asian markets overnight after a rate cut in China. The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 6,969.46 within the opening hour, having risen as high as 6,972.01 in
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BHP higher after beating forecasts, Meggitt hit by falling profits
24th Feb 2015 12:59
Mining giant BHP Billiton jumped after beating forecasts with a less-than-expected decline in earnings in the first half. Underlying operating profits fell 12.3% year-on-year to $14.49bn, compared with consensus forecasts of $13.62bn. The group also pledged to keep its dividend policy unchanged desp
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Bovis Homes, LSE
23rd Feb 2015 11:57
An uncertain outlook at HSBC is likely to keep the market cautious about the global lender, according to Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, after 2014 results on Monday came in below forecasts. Head of equities Richard Hunter said: "Given the wider sectoral issues, HSBC has had a difficult year, with
Read moreUBS upgrades Glencore to 'buy', downgrades Rio Tinto to 'neutral'
23rd Feb 2015 10:09
UBS has lifted its rating for Glencore from 'neutral' to 'buy', saying the commodities trader and mining group is well positioned for a cyclical recovery. However, sector peer Rio Tinto has been hit by a downgrade from 'buy' to 'neutral' on the back of a "challenging" price outlook and lack of near-
Read moreLondon close: FTSE sets fresh 15-year high on Greek optimism
20th Feb 2015 16:38
UK stocks settled at a new 15-year high on Friday afternoon as improving economic data from the Eurozone and optimism about a deal being agreed on Greek debt offset weak retail sales data in Britain. Eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels on Friday afternoon to discuss a loan extension request b
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Glaxosmithkline upgraded, miners and oil stocks higher
13th Feb 2015 14:29
Glaxosmithkline's shares were given a boost by UBS which upgraded its rating for the pharmaceutical stock by two notches from 'sell' to 'buy', saying that the business is now at an "inflection point" after a tough few years. The bank hiked its target price for the stock from 1,250p to 1,700p. The sh
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