London afternoon: Oil lubricates slippery slope
23rd Feb 2011 14:22
An attempted rally in the morning was already fizzling out as the afternoon started, and prices continued to drift lower over the lunchtime trading session, as investors continue to fret about the higher oil price. Brent crude for April delivery surged to more than $109 per barrel shortly after 2pm
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower amid Libya worries
23rd Feb 2011 12:02
The higher oil price amid continuing turmoil in Libya is helping to keep shares in the red, though company updates have been given a mixed reception. Brent crude hit over $107 per barrel, up 1% today, as the violence and rhetoric in Libya increased. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi vowed to fight a gr
Read moreLondon close: Rally falls short as Libya casts shadow
22nd Feb 2011 17:00
Strong consumer confidence figures in the US sparked an impressive rally from the top share index this afternoon following earlier gloom over the Libyan turmoil and the higher oil price, but worries re-emerged and the FTSE 100 finished below 6,000. BHP Billiton is one of those that has limped into
Read moreLondon afternoon: Modest rally continues
22nd Feb 2011 14:12
Shares continued to pare the morning's losses over the lunch time trading session, and from a position at the mid-morning stage where only five FTSE 100 constituents were in positive territory, by 2pm that number had grown to around 20. BHP Billiton is one of those that has limped into the black. T
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Contract concerns for BAE
22nd Feb 2011 12:23
Although the FTSE 100 is off its low for the day it remains well down. Worries about potential cancellations of defence projects hit BAE Systems. Rising oil prices have knocked International Consolidated Airlines Group. BHP Billiton has regained its early losses after it announced the acquisit
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE plunges below 6,000 on Libya worries
22nd Feb 2011 12:10
Shares are under pressure today as the Libya crisis pushes up oil prices, though precious metal miners are benefitting from defensive buying. Oil prices are higher again, with Brent crude for April settlement rising past $108 a barrel, not good news for British Airways owner IAG, which is one of to
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 below 6,000 as Libya casts shadow
22nd Feb 2011 08:24
The FTSE 100 is back below 6,000 points as the ongoing turmoil in Lybia continues to jangle traders' nerves. Oil prices are higher again, not good news for British Airways owner IAG, which is one of today's notable fallers. The high gold price as investors seek a safe haven has lifted African Barri
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie in red despite miners
14th Feb 2011 14:29
Mining stocks are buoyant after China's economy grew 9.8% in the final quarter of 2010, but demand for miners has not prevented the blue-chip index from sliding into the red. Takeover talk is pushing the price of engineering stalwarts Weir Group and Invensys higher, with German engineering colossu
Read moreBroker tips: Diageo, Fidessa, Telecom Plus
14th Feb 2011 13:37
Charles Stanley stays with its 'accumulate' rating on beverage group Diageo and suggests that investors should use the recent weakness in the share price - following the results - as a buying opportunity. Although the results came in at the bottom range of expectations, the broker notes that Diageo
Read moreBroker snap: Forecasts cut but IAG still a 'buy'
14th Feb 2011 11:03
Fuel price increases, capacity issues and the winter impact on pricing are all concerns for British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG), but the shares are still worth buying at this price, UBS says. "We think investor concerns that fuel increases will not be able to be fully passed o
Read moreLondon close: Footsie lower as results disappoint
10th Feb 2011 16:29
Footsie staged a late rally to climb back over 6,000, but still ended the day lower amid a very mixed bag of company results. It was a day for corporates to keep their head down as even those companies posting good numbers got whacked. Miner Rio Tinto fell after record full-year profits, a $5bn sha
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie hovers around 6,000
10th Feb 2011 15:18
Footsie has slumped below 6,000 with insurers and miners featuring prominently among the laggards. Miner Rio Tinto is lower even though it had plenty to please shareholders, with record full-year profits, a $5bn share buyback and 20% increase in the dividend. The Anglo-Australian group made a net
Read moreBA cabin crew to hold new strike ballot
8th Feb 2011 16:21
Cabin crew at British Airways are to take a new ballot on strike action after the airline said a previous ballot was illegal. Staff voted in favour of strike action last week, but BA invoked a ruling that staff can be dismissed if they go on strike for the same reason more than three months after t
Read moreBritish Airways lifts surcharge as oil price soars
4th Feb 2011 17:03
British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) has blamed soaring oil prices for a £12 increase on the fuel surcharge on long-haul flights. The new charges mean that travellers on the UK airline will pay a surcharge of £88 for flights of more than nine hours, up from £76 previously. On fl
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Utilities strengthen
4th Feb 2011 13:35
Utilities dominate the risers in the Footsie. Severn Trent, United Utilities and the newly enlarged International Power head the risers. BT Group continues to strengthen after yesterday's third quarter figures. International Consolidated Airlines continues to fall. The share price has fallen b
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