London close: Footsie adds 2%
1st Jul 2009 16:34
Miners were rampant Wednesday on stronger commodity prices, leaving the sector heavyweights dominating the blue chip index. There was healthy demand for gold on the metal markets, while copper also improved. The red metal headed higher following strong Chinese manufacturing data, while decreasing s
Read moreLondon afternoon: Resource stocks lead the way
1st Jul 2009 14:29
Resource stocks lead the market higher after the second half of the year got off to a good start following better than expected factory output data. The CIPS/Markit manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 47 in June from 45.4 the month before and a gloomy 34.9 in February. Most of the top
Read moreLondon midday: Marks sparks rally
1st Jul 2009 12:06
A well received set of results from Marks & Sparks and the strength of miners drives London higher today. Marks and Spencer's like-for-like sales fell across its major divisions in the first quarter, though total group sales were up. In the 13-weeks to June, UK like for like sales fell 1.4%, Genera
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Aveva, Holidaybreak, Albemarle & Bond
27th May 2009 06:41
Engineering software group Aveva is a good, solid group and those worried about keeping their equity safe should consider the company a decent punt. For that reason the Independent is still a buyer though it cautions that the gains seen over the last few months may not be repeated. Buy. Aveva is a
Read moreLondon close: US sparks Footsie recovery
26th May 2009 16:29
Footsie finished higher Tuesday after a strong performance by US shares, lifted by consumer confidence figures, hauled London's leading share index out of the red. The mining sector summed up the volatility seen on the markets today. Rio Tinto climbed after it said it had agreed a 33% cut in contra
Read moreLondon afternoon: Defensive stocks back in favour
26th May 2009 14:42
Hopes that Wall Street might provide a fillip to UK shares have been dashed as US markets open in a similarly dull fashion to London. Mining stocks and financials are the worst performers while defensive sectors such as tobaccos and supermarkets have returned to favour. Mining giant Rio Tinto is lo
Read moreLondon midday: Equities drift lower
26th May 2009 12:07
It was a dull morning session for London's leading shares, with the market following Asian markets lower after the news broke concerning North Korea's nuclear bomb test. Mining stocks and financials are the worst performers. Mining giant Rio Tinto is lower after it agreed a 33% cut in contract fin
Read moreLondon open: Slow start to short week
26th May 2009 08:41
London has made a slow start to the week after the long weekend in both the UK and the US and with little blue chip news out today so far. Miners are the best performers again. Mining giant Rio Tinto is lower has agreed a 33% cut in contract fine iron ore prices with Japan's Nippon Steel Corp for t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Dull start to short week in prospect
26th May 2009 07:40
London looks set to make a slow start to the week after the long week-end in both the UK and the USA. Traders expect the FTSE 100 will start around 28 points lower, echoing the weaker trend seen in Japan. Half-year losses have doubled at short break specialist Holidaybreak, but are in line with th
Read moreHomeserve buys French warranty provider
26th May 2009 07:16
Homeserve has extended its reach in continental Europe through the acquisition of electrical appliances warranty provider, Société Française de Garantie (SFG). The UK home emergency insurance cover specialist is paying April Group SA £24m for SFG, though as the acquired company had £6.9m in cash at
Read moreGenus non-exec bulks up stake
20th May 2009 16:59
Professor Barry Furr, a non-executive director at the animal breeding technology group Genus, has spent £30,000 more than doubling his stake in the animal breeding company, the firm confirmed today. He bought 5,000 shares at 600p a time and now has 8,000. Furr, a former chief scientist for the dru
Read moreLondon close: Miners and financials lead the way
19th May 2009 16:31
Strength among financial plays and miners guaranteed London gains Tuesday, although it had looked a close call following a weak start on Wall Street. A near-13% slump in US housing starts in April proved a drag mid-afternoon before US stocks regained their poise and moved higher. Anglo American fi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares off top after US housing starts shock
19th May 2009 14:15
Alarming US housing starts data looks set to put the kybosh on the prospect of a firm start on Wall Street and has had a knock-on effect in London, where share prices are coming off the top. Marks & Spencer remains the day's biggest blue-chip faller after it saw a sharp drop in pre-tax profits to
Read moreBroker tips: Tate & Lyle, Homeserve, Tullow Oil
19th May 2009 13:01
The poaching of highly regarded Javed Ahmed from Reckitt Benckiser to take over from Ian Ferguson as CEO at Tate & Lyle has given a rush to the share price of the sugar and sweeteners group. Broker Charles Stanley suggests that the arrival of two new brooms at the top - Ahmed will take over as chie
Read moreBroker snap: Homeserve sale gets thumbs-up
19th May 2009 12:42
The decision by home emergency insurance cover specialist Homeserve to get shot of its UK Emergency Services division has been welcomed by analysts at Panmure Gordon and Royal Bank of Scotland. Panmure Gordon analyst Andy Brown reckons the decision to exit the UK emergency services area will remove
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