London afternoon: Upward trend continues
14th Apr 2010 14:26
London consolidated gains over the lunch-time session on another quiet day for corporate news. Forecast-topping results from computer chip maker Intel yesterday have been interpreted as a clear sign that the recovery in the global economy is not running out of steam, and that has led to a rise in b
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Homeserve acquisition applauded
14th Apr 2010 12:07
Home maintenance specialist Homeserve is leading the risers after saying it is extending its US reach with the acquisition of National Grid Energy Services' service contract business. Engineering consultant WS Atkins is a top FTSE 250 riser after it said it has continued to perform strongly and exp
Read moreLondon midday: BT heads field after broker tip
14th Apr 2010 12:02
Having been largely responsible for the Footsie's fall yesterday miners are driving the blue-chip index higher today, enabling the index to move close to the 5800 level despite the presence of the usual Wednesday batch of ex-dividend stocks. Forecasting topping results from computer chip maker Inte
Read moreIPF posts Q1 profit
14th Apr 2010 08:02
Lender IPF returned to the black in the first quarter as it added more customers and saw an improvement in economic conditions. The group, which provides small short-term loans to customers in eastern Europe and Mexico, said it made a good start to 2010 and reported a pre-tax profit of £2m in the f
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Carillion, IPF, Arriva...
4th Mar 2010 06:03
It's ten years since Carillion was spun off from Tarmac and two years since it formally dropped out of the FTSE construction sector. Yesterday's full-year results showed that Carillion generated £118m of profits in 2009 from support services, up from £20m ten years ago and accounting for more than h
Read moreLondon open: Cautious start for blue chips
3rd Mar 2010 08:44
A weak end to trading in the US last night has pulled London back from yesterday's six-week high. Some big names going ex-dividend have added to the early weakness. Standard Chartered defiantly said it will pay its executives bonuses after another record year in 2009, with income and profits slight
Read moreIPF helped by strong fourth quarter
3rd Mar 2010 07:36
Profits fell last year at lender International Personal Finance, though the final quarter saw the best performance for two years as Mexico moved into the black and Hungary recovered a little. Pre-tax profits fell to £61.7m from £76.3m despite the first full year profit from Mexico. IPF added that t
Read moreLondon close: Losses narrow
15th Dec 2009 16:33
Top shares fought back late afternoon to halve losses, but most financial issues stayed lower, while oil plays also ended friendless. Turmoil in the Greek banking sector since credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded the country's sovereign debt last week continued to hurt. Barclays and HSBC were am
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks continue to weigh
15th Dec 2009 14:51
London is off its worst levels of the day, but remains deep in the red as finance plays suffer on fears about the strength of European peers. Barclays and HSBC are among the worst performers as Greek rivals slump on worries about their country's budget deficit. Reports, later denied, that Austria'
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifts back
15th Dec 2009 12:12
Footsie has drifted slightly lower as banks and miners join British Airways among the heaviest fallers. The airline is in focus amid expectations of a 12-day strike over Christmas. BA said it is mulling "all options" to cope with the planned action by cabin crew over the Christmas period. BA is
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Bullish update boosts IPF
15th Dec 2009 11:56
Credit lender International Personal Finance (IPF) is in demand after saying it anticipates that full year results will slightly exceed expectations. 'IPF continues to make good progress and with three significant weeks of trading to go before the year end including the key Christmas period, we ex
Read moreLondon open: Dull start as BA suffers
15th Dec 2009 09:02
London's top stocks have turned lower as investors take a breather following recent gains. British Airways has generated most headlines this morning. The embattled airline is drawing up contingency plans to cope if the planned 12-day strike by cabin crew goes ahead. An injunction is one option, but
Read moreLondon pre-open: Flat start ahead
15th Dec 2009 07:34
London's top stocks are expected to open largely flat as investors take a breather following the previous sessions gains. Costa Coffee owner Whitbread has offered to buy Eastern European coffee shop operator CoffeeHeaven for about £36m. The recommended offer of 24 pence in cash represents a premium
Read moreIPF says 2009 results to beat expectations
15th Dec 2009 07:21
Credit lender International Personal Finance (IPF) anticipates that full year results will slightly exceed expectations. 'IPF continues to make good progress and with three significant weeks of trading to go before the year end including the key Christmas period, we expect that if present trends c
Read moreTuesday preview: Carpetright, Informa, Go-Ahead
14th Dec 2009 16:30
KBC Peel Hunt notes that Carpetright has been benefiting from the demise of fellow carpet retailer Allied Carpets and thinks it is in a strong position to 'deliver record UK sales this year.' The company's interim results should offer some clues as to whether this will be achieved. Citigroup is not
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