Headlam sees strong UK performance
18th May 2011 14:48
Floorcoverings distributor Headlam Group saw revenue increase by 3.9% in the four months ended 30 April, as a poor performance in Europe was offset by strong growth in the UK. UK revenue grew by 5.8%, with the underlying like-for-like performance improving by 8.2%, while revenues from the Continent
Read morePearson's Penguin boss picks up £2.2m
8th Apr 2011 16:24
John Makinson, a director at the publisher Pearson and chairman and chief executive of its book publishing arm Penguin, has pocketed £2.2m from the sale of shares in the company. He sold 200,000 Pearson shares at 1,106p a time leaving him with 402,815 shares. Makinson was finance director of Pears
Read moreLondon close: Japan gloom stifles rally
11th Mar 2011 16:41
The devastating earthquake in Japan this morning overshadowed today's trading but shares struggled to climb into the blue and finished just a few points short. The tsunami resulting from the earthquake has already killed a large number of people in Japan, with police in the port of Sendai reporting
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally runs out of steam
11th Mar 2011 14:29
An attempt at continuing the late-morning rally fizzled out over the lunch time session, but prices are not as soft as might be expected given the array of bad news out there, such as the Japanese earthquake, the Libyan situation and the continuing concerns about European sovereign debt. The insura
Read moreLondon midday: Japan earthquake casts shadow
11th Mar 2011 12:21
The earthquake in Japan is casting a shadow over trading today and the FTSE 100 sits just a few points above 5,800 now. The insurance sector has been hit by worries over the possible effects of the Japan earthquake. Aviva, Legal & General and Prudential are suffering losses. The damage caused by th
Read moreLondon open: Footsie recovers early losses
11th Mar 2011 09:07
London is trying to stage a rally after the rout on Wall Street yesterday over the situation in Libya, sovereign debt in the eurozone and overnight a huge earthquake in Japan. Bus and train group FirstGroup remains on track to hit full-year to earnings and cash targets, but warns it's been a bumpy
Read moreHeadlam profits spark divi hike
11th Mar 2011 07:42
Floor coverings group Headlam grew profits by over 13% in 2010 and has enjoyed a positive start to 2011. Profit before tax rose to £25m last year from £22.1m in 2009 on revenue up 0.4% to £535.7m, a good effort, Headlam said, given that indications were market size would keep falling. The UK busin
Read moreSmall caps round-up: Headlam, Henry Boot, IQE...
20th Jan 2011 14:07
Floor coverings distributor Headlam expects 2010 earnings to be marginally ahead of market expectations, after group revenue improved by 0.4% on the previous year. In the UK, like for like (LFL) revenues rose by 0.4% from a year earlier but the continental European businesses saw a 0.7% decline in
Read moreLondon close: Bad day ends badly
27th Oct 2010 16:12
London ended the day heavily in the red as a triple-digit fall on Wall Street knocked an attempted rally by Footsie firmly on the head. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected hit the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto the worst performers. Britis
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rally fizzles out
27th Oct 2010 14:23
Expectations of a weak opening on Wall Street put an end to London's attempt to move into positive territory, and losses lengthened again over the lunch time session. Reports suggesting that any new stimulus in the US will be smaller than expected have knocked the miners with Kazakhmys, Xstrata and
Read moreSmall caps round-up: Ascent Resources, DCC, Newmark...
18th May 2010 11:03
Pre-tax losses widened sharply at Europe-focused oil and gas group Ascent Resources in 2009 as the company felt the pinch of lower commodity prices. Pre-tax losses grew to £10.57m from £4.5m the previous year on revenues that narrowed to £890,000 from £1.47m. Managing director Jeremy Eng said: 'W
Read moreLondon close: Footsie comes off highs
19th Mar 2010 16:37
Footsie reached levels not seen since 2008 in afternoon dealings, but the gains dwindled after a poor start in the US and the leading share index finished just a few points in the blue. Banks led the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combin
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie at 21 month high
19th Mar 2010 14:08
Footsie marked time over the lunch time session after hitting levels in the morning session not seen since June 2008. Banks continue to lead the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Danie
Read moreLondon midday: Defensives left behind
19th Mar 2010 12:10
Risers outnumber fallers by around four to one among FTSE 100 constituents as the market continues to enjoy a sentiment boost from an impromptu and upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed
Read moreLondon open: Lloyds fires Footsie higher
19th Mar 2010 08:45
London's top stocks have started strongly after the Dow posted its eighth day of gains and Lloyds Banking predicted a profit this year. Part-nationalised lender Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed Friday. In a short statement ahead
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