London midday: Stocks off the bottom
28th Apr 2010 12:13
Blue-chips are beginning to recover their poise, helped by demand for heavyweight oil stocks in the wake of better than expected results from Shell, and a positive reaction to results from Glaxo, released at noon. Higher oil prices helped Royal Dutch Shell post a sharp rise in earnings in the first
Read moreSwine flu vaccine orders boost Glaxo
28th Apr 2010 12:13
A surge in orders of vaccines to stave off the swine flu pandemic that had been feared last year helped drug giant GlaxoSmithKline post a jump in profits. In the first quarter of 2010, sales rose by 9% from the same period a year ago to £7.357bn, helping lift earnings per share by 17% to 30.7p. Gla
Read moreWednesday preview: Glaxo, Shell, Home Retail, RBS, Croda
27th Apr 2010 16:55
In what is sure to be a very busy day for corporate announcements pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline and Anglo-Dutch oil titan Royal Dutch Shell are likely to be two of the biggest, though press coverage of the AGM for part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland may consume an equal amount of
Read moreWeek Ahead: BP, Shell, Glaxo
23rd Apr 2010 11:46
After a lull lasting a couple of weeks next week sees a heavily populated agenda of company results, with energy and pharmaceuticals companies dominating. Among the oil companies due to announce next week BP is first out of the traps on Tuesday with first quarter figures. Net income is forecast to
Read moreSector movers: Elektron power electronics gains
6th Apr 2010 14:32
Elektron is among the stocks boosting the electronic and electrical equipment sector. The components group today announced Keith Daley has been appointed executive chairman. Daley has been non-executive chairman and temporary chief executive officer since the resignation of the previous CEO in 200
Read moreSector movers: Songbird weighs on real estate
26th Mar 2010 14:00
The real estate sector is higher despite weakness in the share price of Songbird Estates. Docklands office complex Canary Wharf's value increased in the second half of 2009, owner Songbird Estates said today, as it recovered from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a key tenant. Songbird, which had t
Read moreSector movers: Commodity stocks slip back
22nd Mar 2010 14:50
Oil and gas stocks and industrial metals and miners are lower as commodity prices slip. The oil price fell for a third day in a row after India unexpectedly raised interest rates by a quarter of one percentage point to 3.5%, stoking fears that the global recovery will falter. Copper prices were lo
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Investec, Savills, Aegis
19th Mar 2010 06:45
Shares in Investec, the South African lender with a dual listing in London, have gained 26% since the start of the year ? a performance that will see it promoted to the FTSE 100 index for the first time next week. Overall, Investec has risen more than threefold in value since floating over here in 2
Read moreLondon close: Weak finish as banks retreat
18th Mar 2010 16:35
London closed in the red after a mixed opening on Wall Street as banks and miners ran into profit taking. Among the big caps, GlaxoSmithKline was the best performer, after rival drug group, Switzerland's Novartis, had to hand back US rights of a drug widely considered a generic copy of Glaxo's top
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Drug hand back boosts Glaxo
18th Mar 2010 16:02
Footsie is barely changed on the day but pharma company GlaxoSmithKline is a big riser. Rival drug group Novartis has handed back the US rights for asthma treatment VR315 to UK-based pharma company Vectura. VR315 is widely considered to be a generic copy of Glaxo's top selling drug, the Asthma tre
Read moreLondon afternoon: Back to square one
18th Mar 2010 15:19
A mixed opening on Wall Street has provided no guidance for a similarly rudderless London market. Among the big caps, GlaxoSmithKline is the best performer, after rival drug group, Switzerland's Novartis, had to hand back US rights of a drug widely considered a generic copy of Glaxo's top selling
Read moreLondon close: Footsie edges forward
12th Mar 2010 16:44
The leading share index limped higher to into the weekend only a few points ahead on the week. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays gained. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand. HSBC was the exception among the financials after Goldman Sachs reduced i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie heading higher again
12th Mar 2010 14:05
Futures pointing to a strong start on Wall Street after better than expected retail sales figures and demand for the UK banks have kept Footsie moving upwards. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are all higher. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand.
Read moreLondon midday: Banks keep Footsie ahead
12th Mar 2010 12:00
Banks are driving Footsie upwards following a sluggish start. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are all higher. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand. HSBC is the exception among the financials after Goldman Sachs reduced its view to 'neutral' and
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for Footsie
12th Mar 2010 08:39
Early gains have all now evaporated and Footsie has slipped into the red despite a good rally on Wall Street overnight. Financial are the best performers with the nearly all showing good gains. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are all higher. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and S
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