FTSE 250 movers: Bodycote tops the list
4th Mar 2011 12:41
Thermal processing services provider Bodycote is the best performer on the FTSE 250 today, gaining 6%. The group announced last week that it swung into the black in 2010 with estimate-beating profits. Charter International is edging higher after its welding, cutting and automation business ESAB has
Read moreLondon close: Footsie scuppered by Tesco
13th Jan 2011 16:51
London struggled all day after a grim performance by supermarket Tesco and disappointing US unemployment data in the afternoon. The Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates at 0.5% and the asset purchase programme unchanged was as expected. US shares fell back, with the Dow down 14 point
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie extends losses
13th Jan 2011 15:38
A weak start on Wall Street and grim performance by supermarket Tesco is keeping London firmly in the red Thursday. Disappointing weekly jobs data in the US scuppered any chance UK blue chips had of turning positive, while the Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates at 0.5% and the asset
Read moreSector movers: Retailers mixed after festive updates
13th Jan 2011 15:32
General retailers are performing well Thursday led by computer games specialist GAME. Shares are on the rise as it retained its guidance over full year profits, despite revealing a 4.1% decline in Christmas sales. Group sales for the 49 weeks to 8 January declined by 7.7%, with sales in the UK and I
Read moreLondon midday: Shares little changed
13th Jan 2011 12:01
Today's stream of updates from the retail sector has failed to give the top share index much of a jolt in either direction. The Bank of England left interest rates at 0.5% and the asset purchase programme unchanged, as expected. Tesco falls after the snow and ice meant UK like for like sales were
Read moreLondon open: Retailers move both ways after updates
13th Jan 2011 08:31
The top share index is little changed in early dealings though there are some notable movers in both directions, particularly in the retail sector. Tesco falls after the snow and ice meant UK like for like sales were weaker than expected and lagged rivals. Like for like sales in the UK for the six
Read moreTrading in line at Home Retail Group
13th Jan 2011 07:35
Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group expects full-year pre-tax profits to come in at the mid-point of its previously guided range of £250m to £275m after both of its brands performed in line with expectations. Sales at the catalogue-based chain Argos fell by 3.2% to £1.861bn in the 18 weeks t
Read moreAmlin non-exec increases stake
22nd Oct 2010 16:41
Amlin independent non-executive director Sir Mark Wrightson has invested nearly £20,000 in increasing his stake in the Lloyds' insurance firm. Sir Mark bought 5,000 shares at 395.75p each, taking his stake to 13,888 shares. He also acquired 1,000 shares 395.26p a share in his position as a trustee
Read moreSector movers: Retailers cap big week with gains
22nd Oct 2010 13:56
The retail sector is going well at the end of a busy week, that has seen Argos owner Home Retail, department store Debenhams and a few others issuing numbers. News from the sector is thin on the ground today, though motor dealer Pendragon has said it is growing faster than the market as its recover
Read moreHome truths for Argos owner
21st Oct 2010 12:04
Yesterday's half year results from Home Retail Group are a good indication of the economic pressures facing Britain's less well-off. Reporting a 6.5% fall in like-for-like sales at Argos, the catalogue-based retailer of household products, chief executive Terry Duddy said the chain's 'core customer
Read moreLondon close: Footsie shrugs off spending cuts
20th Oct 2010 16:51
A strong performance on Wall Street breathed life back into Footsie after the leading share index suffered a weak spell following the Compehensive Spending Review (CSR). One sector to give the CSR the thumbs up was bus companies such as Stagecoach, Go-Ahead, FirstGroup and National Express. The sub
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares drift lower
20th Oct 2010 14:21
Shares turned south over the lunchtime session though it is difficult to ascribe any of the losses to the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review, much of which was widely as expected. Mining stocks are doing their bit to counteract the effects of Footsie stalwarts BAE Systems, Smiths Group and
Read moreLondon midday: Shares sit higher ahead of Spending Review
20th Oct 2010 12:39
Shares are still sitting in the blue as trader's prepare themselves for chancellor George Osborne's Comprehensive Spending Review. The leading share index moved into positive territory after minutes from the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee meeting earlier this month showed that one memb
Read moreLondon open: Nervous wait for spending review
20th Oct 2010 08:54
An overnight slump on Wall Street has made for a muted start as investors wait for minutes from the Bank of England's last policy meeting and the government's spending review. The coalition's Comprehensive Spending Review is fully expected to be a bloodbath, but the City will want clear evidence th
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small retreat predicted
20th Oct 2010 07:27
An overnight slump on Wall Street looks like upsetting London in early deals, but all eyes will be on minutes from the Bank of England's last policy meeting and the government's spending review. The FTSE 100 is expected to open down just 12 points despite a 165-point dive in the US Tuesday. Trader
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