London close: Footsie finishes close to daily highs
14th Jun 2011 16:29
London was given an extra lift in the afternoon as markets on Wall Street opened strongly. Also helping sentiment was some reassuring economic figures from China. Chinese industrial production rose by 13.3% in May, assuaging some observers' fears that economic expansion in the fast-growing country c
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RBS rises on disposal speculation
14th Jun 2011 15:15
Royal Bank of Scotland is among the best performers after reports suggest that it is in talks to sell its vehicle-leasing business to General Electric, the American super-conglomerate. Heading the other way is commodity trading house Glencore after the group reported its first quarter results this
Read moreLondon midday: China reassurance boosts FTSE 100
14th Jun 2011 12:06
Stocks have moved higher, helped by some reassuring economic figures from China. Chinese industrial production rose by 13.3% in May, assuaging some observers' fears that economic expansion in the fast-growing country could slow. The excitement is in the FTSE 250 today, with Avis Europe soaring on
Read moreLondon open: Shares rise as Avis takeover stokes M&A excitement
14th Jun 2011 08:32
London's leading share index is posting strong decent growth this morning in contrast to recent sluggishness, but the excitement is in the FTSE 250 with Avis Europe soaring on news the Avis car hire brand is set to return to single ownership after US operator Avis Budget launched an agreed bid. Avi
Read moreGlaxo takes full control of China JV
14th Jun 2011 08:06
Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline has taken another step towards increasing its presence in emerging markets, with the acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in a joint venture established in China to develop 'flu vaccines. It paid Shenzhen Neptunus Interlong Bio-Technique £24m for the stake in the joi
Read moreEmerging markets lead the way at Glaxo
27th Apr 2011 12:59
Strong sales in developing markets helped drug giant GlaxoSmithKline offset weakness in Europe and the US to post a rise in first quarter profits. Turnover was down by 10% at £6.585bn, but earnings per share climbed by 5% to 32.2p. The sales decline was largely due to a slide in sales of pandemic
Read moreWednesday preview: BP, Barclays, Glaxo ...
26th Apr 2011 16:12
It is just over a year since the Gulf of Mexico Macondo oil well tragedy, an event that will continue to loom large over oil colossus BP when it announces its first quarter results on what is a busy Wednesday for company results. However, recent events in Russia are likely to be more to the forefro
Read moreBroker snap: Tough first quarter expected for GSK
21st Apr 2011 10:16
Credit Suisse lowers some of its first quarter estimates for pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), saying that the period will suffer tough comparatives. GSK will reports its first quarter results next week and the broker notes that, like the fourth quarter of 2010, the first three months of
Read moreSector movers: Falling metals prices pressures mining sector lower
12th Apr 2011 14:18
The miners are on the decline Tuesday, helped lower by the falling metals prices. Copper and gold futures have fallen as the escalating crisis in Japan has bought about concerns over demand. Mining titans Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources Corp, Anglo American, Antofagasta and Fresnillo are all
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Aggreko, Cranswick, GlaxoSmithKline
5th Apr 2011 06:39
Temporary power provider Aggreko's shares rallied yesterday as the market welcomed the news that the company is to supply power to Japan to make up for some of the shortfall from the nuclear plants crippled by the disaster. To be sure, there have been questions from analysts about the impact from th
Read moreGlaxo confirms Omega-3 row is over
30th Mar 2011 07:44
UK drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline today confirmed that a legal spat over the US patent for Omega-3 drug Lovaza has been settled. Pronova BioPharma Norge AS, which owns the patents for Lovaza, has agreed to let Apotex launch a generic version in the US in the first quarter of 2015, or earlier, "dependi
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: New price review regime pleases National Grid
18th Mar 2011 14:59
Power and gas grid operator National Grid is heading the gainers after OfGem published details of its new price review regime which the regulator said will provide strong incentives and penalties to encourage smarter, more sustainable networks. The price controls for Britain's gas and electricity
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Libya. Moody's, Angry Birds...
11th Mar 2011 06:35
Muammer Gaddafi's superior military forces meant his "regime will prevail" in the longer term, the US director of national intelligence, James Clapper, said in comments that undermined a robust defence by Washington of its Libya policy. Mr Clapper said in testimony to Congress on Thursday that Colo
Read moreLondon close: Footsie in full retreat
10th Mar 2011 16:57
Blue chips took a beating as investors focused on weak economic data from China and a downgrade for Spanish debt, rather than the Bank of England decision to keep its key lending rate at 0.5%. China posted a trade deficit of $7.3bn in February compared with the usual surplus, due mainly to the shut
Read moreLondon afternoon: Drugs firms provide some cheer
10th Mar 2011 14:47
Investors are finding plenty of reasons to be fearful but at least the Bank of England has stuck to the script and held its key lending rate at 0.5%. Otherwise, weak economic data from China and a downgrade for Spanish debt has put the situation in Libya into the shade today. China posted a trad
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