London midday: Losses widen amid commodity slide
12th May 2011 12:05
The FTSE 100's losses have grown with miners on the back foot amid worries over global growth. Silver specialist Fresnillo leads the mining sector lower in the FTSE 100. Worries that China may further tighten monetary policy are hurting commodity prices. Lower oil prices were evident on the markets
Read more3i ups divi by 20%
12th May 2011 08:54
Private equity group 3i has upped its dividend by 20% after reporting a sharp rise in investments in the year to 31 March. "High quality new investment has always been central to future value growth for our shareholders," said chairman Sir Adrian Montague. "It was therefore encouraging that, alth
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 on the slide again
12th May 2011 08:26
Shares are firmly in the red again today, with miners on the slide in line with commodity markets and one or two trading updates setting traders' nerves on edge. Silver specialist Fresnillo leads the mining sector lower in the FTSE 100. Worries that China may further tighten monetary policy are hurt
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: UK a drag on 3i's performance
1st Apr 2011 17:08
The UK is letting the side down for private equity investor 3i, today's biggest faller among Footsie constituents. "Overall, the private equity portfolio has performed well," chief executive Michael Queen said. "There have, however, been marked regional differences, with strong growth in Northern
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars past 6,000
1st Apr 2011 16:38
Shares have moved back above the 6,000 point mark as economic data from the US stoked optimism. Private non-farm payrolls rose by 216,000 in March, versus consensus expectations for a 190,000 person increase. Also, the unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, to 8.8% (Consensus: 8.9%). Average hourly e
Read moreLondon afternoon: US jobs data provides fresh impetus
1st Apr 2011 14:28
The release of generally favourable US non-farm payrolls data has given London shares fresh impetus. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI fell unexpectedly to 57.1 points, against consensus expectations f
Read moreLondon midday: Shares rise ahead of US jobs data.
1st Apr 2011 12:03
Shares have added to their early gains on hopes that jobs data from the US later today will fuel global economic optimism. Non-farm payroll numbers are due at 1.30pm. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI
Read moreLondon open: Shares win back gains
1st Apr 2011 08:34
Shares have got off to a decent start, clawing back some of the gains that came in late trading yesterday. Banks, which had been awaiting yesterday afternoon's banking stress test results nervously, are leading the way today, with Barclays, Lloyds and RBS posting good gains. In other news, Marks
Read moreLondon pre-open: Quiet start ahead of US jobs data
1st Apr 2011 07:37
After going into a late dive yesterday following the publication of the Irish banking stress tests London's leading shares are set to claw back some of those losses at the outset, though trading is likely to be low in the absence of signficant company news and ahead of this afternoon's March jobless
Read moreUK firms lag European peers, says 3i
1st Apr 2011 07:21
UK companies lagged behind their peers in Northern Europe in the year to 31 March, the private equity group 3i said in a trading update ahead of its full-year results. The firm said it had seen good progress across the whole business. "Overall, the private equity portfolio has performed well," ch
Read moreIncoming United Utilities boss splashes out
16th Mar 2011 16:28
United Utilities' incoming chief executive has spent £400,000 on shares in the water supplier. Steven Mogford, who will take the reins at United Utilities on 31 March, took 70,814 shares at 564.9p a time, his first purchase of shares in the company. Mogford's appointment was announced in November
Read more3i buys debt management business
16th Feb 2011 07:01
Private equity group 3i has bought debt management business Mizuho Investment Management (UK) from Mizuho Corporate Bank for £18.3m. Mizuho Investment Management (MIM) was established in 2005 and specialises in the management of funds raised to invest in senior and subordinated corporate debt, prov
Read moreLondon close: Footsie fades late
27th Jan 2011 16:32
Footsie closed lower after an afternoon rally, following a downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors, fizzled out. Life insurers moved to the top of the pile led by Old Mutual, Prudential and Aviva. Mining stocks did well after the US Federal Reserve indicated yesterd
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks edge higher
27th Jan 2011 14:23
Footsie remains marginally in positive territory after trading sideways over the lunchtime session, with the downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors continuing to weigh on sentiment. Mining stocks are going well, however, after the US Federal Reserve indicated yeste
Read more3i doubles investments in first nine months
27th Jan 2011 09:08
International private equity company 3i Group saw an 'encouraging increase in activity' in its markets in the final quarter of 2010. The group invested £183m in the three month period at the end of the year, bringing the total investment for the first nine months of the group's financial year up to
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