London afternoon: Stocks still sleepwalking
5th Apr 2011 14:16
London is still in a somnambulant mood on a day that is light on big company news, with Footsie still in the red despite a moderate revival over the lunch time session. Music and film retailer HMV continues to struggle against tough conditions on the high street and competition from supermarkets an
Read moreLondon midday: Shares in wait-and-see mode
5th Apr 2011 12:04
Shares are still subdued as investors look ahead to a stream of economic news beginning tonight. There has been some M&A to stir up excitement though. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee while later in the week the
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drive FTSE 100 higher
30th Mar 2011 12:35
Miners are driving the top share index closer to 6,000 points, though the retail sector is under pressure following a profit warning from Dixons Retail. Vedanta, BHP Billiton, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys are among the big names in the mining sector posting gains. Elsewhere in the FTSE 100, oil compa
Read moreLondon open: Miners drive FTSE 100 near 6,000
30th Mar 2011 08:37
Miners are driving the top share index closer to 6,000 points, though the retail sector is under pressure following a profit warning from Dixons Retail. Vedanta, BHP Billiton, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys are among the big names in the mining sector posting gains. Elsewhere in the FTSE 100, oil compa
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Imagination Tech falls despite strong second half
16th Mar 2011 15:19
Imagination Technologies is the worst performer Wednesday despite continuing to see growing demand for its graphics chip technology, though its Digital Audio Broadcasting division, PURE, is finding things a bit tougher. The group expects the volume of chips shipped in the second half of the financ
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: JD Sports defies trend
11th Mar 2011 14:14
The FTSE 250 has fallen further into negative territory as sentiment has been shook by the devastating earthquake in Japan. JD Sports is bucking the trend however after announcing that it will not make an offer for its struggling rival JJB Sports. Sports Direct International rises in sympathy. Fir
Read moreBroker tips: Home Retail, Morrisons, F&C Asset Management
11th Mar 2011 12:50
With the performance at Argos weaker than expected, UBS stays cautious on the chain's owner, Home Retail Group (HRG), and downgrades estimates on the back of rising costs and weaker sales. Group pre-tax profit was around £10m below previous guidance for the year ended 26 February, primarily as a re
Read moreBroker snap: Axe taken to Home Retail estimates
11th Mar 2011 10:40
With the performance at Argos weaker than expected, UBS stays cautious on the chain's owner, Home Retail Group (HRG), and downgrades estimates on the back of rising costs and weaker sales. Group pre-tax profit was around £10m below previous guidance for the year ended 26 February, primarily as a re
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 moreFTSE 250 movers: Laird plummets
10th Mar 2011 15:42
Electrical components group Laird underwhelmed investors after reporting a surge in full year underlying pre-tax profit and saying it is well placed to make further good progress during 2011. Shares were 9% lower. Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group lowered full year profits guidance as trad
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
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower after Spanish downgrade
10th Mar 2011 12:19
The Bank of England's decision to keep rates at 0.5% was fully-expected and shares remain at stuck firmly in the red. Weak economic data from China and a downgrade for Spanish debt has put the situation in Libya into the shade today. China posted a trade deficit of $7.3bn in February compared wit
Read moreLondon open: Shares head lower after China surprise
10th Mar 2011 08:23
Surprisingly weak data out of China this morning has sent shares lower overall, while a stream of company updates has been given a mixed reception. China posted a trade deficit of $7.3bn in February compared with the usual surplus, due mainly to the shutdown of factories during the Chinese New Year
Read moreLondon pre-open: Selling seen on Chinese surprise
10th Mar 2011 07:41
Surprisingly weak data out of China this morning is set to knock London back below 5,900. China posted a trade deficit of $7.3bn in February compared with the usual surplus, due mainly to the shutdown of factories during the Chinese New Year holiday, and higher commodity prices. That looks like sl
Read moreHome Retail warns on profits
10th Mar 2011 07:20
Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group has lowered full year profits guidance as trading remains tough, especially at Argos. "There are clear signs of further pressures on consumer spending, with recent trading conditions, particularly at Argos, proving to be more difficult and volatile than we
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