London midday: FTSE 100 approaches 6,000
3rd Mar 2011 12:03
A combination of pleasing company updates and optimism that the Libyan situation will be resolved has sent shares sharply higher. Reports that the Arab League is considering a proposal to end the fighting in Libya have boosted sentiment, but talk that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is also to try
Read moreLondon open: Strong start as updates impress
3rd Mar 2011 08:40
Shares are broadly higher after a good reception for most updates, while BSkyB moves ahead after the government gave News Corporation's acquisition of the satellite broadcaster the green light. The government has agreed to let Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp, the publisher of the Times and Sun, buy satel
Read moreIMI enjoys record year
3rd Mar 2011 07:51
An increase in demand and cost cutting helped engineer IMI grow full-year profits by 44% to a new record, though the search for a new chairman goes on. Profit from continuing operations before tax and exceptional items rose to £304.4m from £211.7m in 2009 on revenue up 7% to £1.91bn. Reported profi
Read moreLondon close: Company updates drive FTSE 100 higher
26th Jan 2011 16:47
Shares closed with decent gains though off their earlier highs, as well-received company updates helped drive the FTSE 100 forward in line with other markets. BG Group was strong after yet another discovery in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The latest strike is at Carioca North-East, located in
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks stay strong
26th Jan 2011 15:41
Shares have maintained their earlier buoyancy after a decent start on Wall Street. Company updates have been well-received here. BG Group is going strong after yet another discovery in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil. The latest strike is at Carioca North-East, located in a water depth of 2,151m,
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 moreFTSE 100 movers: Motor insurers on the up
13th Jan 2011 13:31
A number of insurers are higher after they agreed with the OFT to limit the motor-related information they swap. RBS and Aviva were directly involved in the agreement. Admiral has also risen. Bank of America Merrill Lynch has upgraded IMI from neutral to buy. The same broker downgraded British
Read moreSunday tips round-up: BG, IMI, Smith & Nephew...
12th Dec 2010 15:33
Shares in energy giant BG Group hit a two-and-a-half year high at the end of last week after it gave an update on operations at its Tupi and Guara fields in Brazil. Based on the new resources estimates for these fields, the three floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels that are
Read moreLondon close: Footsie advances as takeover activity excites
6th Dec 2010 16:56
Shares closed with decent gains as bid activity and higher oil prices whetted investor appetites. There has been no shortage of takeover news to keep traders occupied on an otherwise fairly quiet day. FTSE 250-listed De La Rue was the star performer. The banknote printer enjoyed a second wind Mond
Read moreLondon afternoon: Oil stocks give a lift
6th Dec 2010 14:24
Leading shares are mixed but the Footsie is clinging on to positive territory, largely on the strength of oil stocks, which advance as the price of crude oil moves to levels not seen in more than two years. There has been no shortage of takeover news to keep traders occupied on an otherwise fairly
Read moreLondon midday: Bid action boosts shares
6th Dec 2010 12:04
Shares are broadly higher, with bid activity in the mid-cap index helping to generate excitement. De La Rue has received a bid, the FTSE 250-listed banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also respons
Read moreLondon open: Bid speculation enlivens dull market
6th Dec 2010 08:47
The prospect of mergers and acquisitions activity is livening up an otherwise sedate opening session for London. De La Rue has received a bid, the banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Oberthur Technologies. Talk is the all-cash deal valued the UK company, also responsi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest gains in store
6th Dec 2010 07:35
It looks like London could recover much of Friday's drop, though bid activity should give the mid-cap index an extra boost. The FTSE 100 could add around 16 points, according to futures prices. De La Rue has received a bid, the banknote printer confirmed Monday, thought to be from French rival Obe
Read moreIMI to go nuclear in China
6th Dec 2010 07:29
International engineering group IMI is teaming up with the Shanghai Automation Instrumentation Company (SAIC) to form a joint venture to serve the nuclear energy market in China. The proposed joint venture will produce control valves for critical applications for new nuclear power generation plant
Read moreIMI seeks new chairman
25th Nov 2010 14:50
IMI is looking for a new chairman after Norman Askew today announced his decision to leave the engineer next year. Askew, who joined the board as chairman in May 2005 after running Virginia Power and BNFL, will retire in 2011. The 68-year-old stepped down as chairman of housebuilder Taylor Wimpey
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