London afternoon: Shares drift lower
25th Jan 2010 16:04
Nervousness has returned to the markets following an indecisive start to the day. The UK's leading index has suffered further losses after last week's 200 point slump as investors discussed the potential impact of President Obama's new bank controls. US shares fell heavily last week on the shock
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie holding on
25th Jan 2010 12:22
London continues to trade just above 5,300 thanks to financials and mining plays, although defensive issues are proving a drag. The UK's leading index slumped 200 points last week as investors discussed the potential impact of President Obama's new bank controls. But it appears there's a feeling t
Read moreSector movers: Banks bounce back
25th Jan 2010 11:07
Banks are one of the strongest sectors after recovering from a shaky start. Continuing fears over the potential impact of President Obama's new bank controls weighed on the UK sector in early dealings, with additional fears that a new chunk of fund raising could be on the cards to meet tougher new
Read moreLondon open: Mixed start for blue chips
25th Jan 2010 08:45
London has opened lower with banks and miners mixed and buyers largely sitting on the sidelines. The potential impact of President Obama's new bank controls continues to weigh heavily on the UK sector, with additional fears that a new chunk of fund raising could be on the cards to meet tougher new
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Skipton, British Airways, HSBC
21st Jan 2010 06:05
Tens of thousands of homeowners are facing an extra £2,000 interest on their mortgages every year after Skipton Building Society tore up its contract with customers, blaming the "exceptional circumstances" caused by the credit crunch. Letters are being sent to 29,000 of the mutual's 100,000 mortga
Read moreFTSE movers: Miners head lower
20th Jan 2010 17:27
It is unusual for one sector to make up all of the top ten fallers in the FTSE 100 but this has happened to day as mining companies are hit by concerns about the Chinese government's attempt to cool down its economy. The worry is that this will lead to lower demand for metals. Eurasian Natural Res
Read moreLondon close: Footsie turns positive
19th Jan 2010 17:22
London's top stocks finished the day above the 5,500 mark after turning positive in afternoon trading. Luxury fashion label Burberry was the best performer of the day after saying it expects profits for the full year to be at the top end of expectations after seeing strong sales in the last three m
Read moreBroker snap: HSBC cut by French bank
19th Jan 2010 12:29
HSBC is weaker Tuesday after French broker Exane BNP Paribas cuts its stance on the bank to 'underperform' from 'neutral' with 700p price target. Analyst Ian Gordon says the decision reflects the emergence of 'genuine value opportunities elsewhere, rather than any material deterioration in the pace
Read moreBroker tips: HSBC, Cadbury, Carphone Warehouse
19th Jan 2010 12:29
HSBC is weaker Tuesday after French broker Exane BNP Paribas cuts its stance on the bank to 'underperform' from 'neutral' with 700p price target. Analyst Ian Gordon says the decision reflects the emergence of 'genuine value opportunities elsewhere, rather than any material deterioration in the pace
Read moreUK banks may face $10bn US tax bill, reports
15th Jan 2010 13:16
Three of the UK's biggest banks could face a $10bn (£6bn) tax bill from the US government as part of the Obama Administration's effort to recoup the losses on the $700bn cash advanced under the TARP rescue scheme, according to press reports. Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland may have to hand
Read moreFriday paper round-up: RBS, Barclays, BT
15th Jan 2010 06:34
Three British banks may have to pay more than $10bn (£6bn) to the US Government as part of its crackdown on financial institutions bailed out by taxpayers. Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 84% owned by the Government, may be on the hook for almost $1bn to the US over the next decade under a stringe
Read moreLondon close: Commodity slide hits Footsie
13th Jan 2010 16:32
Footsie ended the day firmly in the red with low commodity prices helping to offset positive broker coverage. With the oil price below $80, oil titans Royal Dutch Shell and BP found themselves on traders' sell lists. BG Group also slipped even after HSBC upped its price target for the stock from 13
Read moreLondon afternoon: Leading shares mixed
13th Jan 2010 14:57
Leading shares are mixed having picked up a little over the lunch time session, helped by a firmer start on Wall Street. With the oil price below $80, oil titans Royal Dutch Shell and BP find themselves on traders' sell lists, but BG Group makes headway after HSBC upped its price target for the st
Read moreLondon midday: Ferrero pulls out of Cadbury chase
13th Jan 2010 11:56
Oils and banks are dragging the Footsie down, with sentiment also soured by disappointing manufacturing output figures. While industrial production showed a 0.4% rise in November, better than the 0.3% rise economists had been predicting, manufacturing output remained unchanged from October's level
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips at 15-month high
29th Dec 2009 16:48
London's blue chip index closed at a new 15-month high having regained all of the ground lost after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Footsie was last this high on 12 September 2008 when it stood at 5,416. The following day Lehman Brothers went bust. London is now the seventh stock market to regain
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