London close: Retailers weigh on Footsie
13th Oct 2009 16:46
A poor performance from US shares dragged Footsie into the red and the leading index finished the day with substantial losses. Retailers were out of sorts despite some moderately optimistic news from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) concerning retail sales. The BRC said annual retail sales growt
Read moreLondon afternoon: Retailers sag after sales data
13th Oct 2009 14:26
Leading shares remain mixed, with the Footsie easing back into the red over the lunchtime session. Retailers are out of sorts despite some moderately optimistic news from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) concerning retail sales. The BRC said annual retail sales growth in September accelerated to
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: ITV rises after ruling out rights issue
13th Oct 2009 13:38
ITV is leading the FTSE 250 higher as it reiterated it has no plans for a rights issue. The broadcaster is to raise £120m through an issue of convertible bonds. Higher platinum prices have given Aquarius Platinum, which mines for the precious metal in South Africa, a lift and Dana Petroleum is up i
Read moreLondon midday: Looking for direction
13th Oct 2009 12:14
The Footsie has crawled into positive territory, helped by miners recovering from their weak opening. Kazakhmys is the pick of the sector after revealing it is in talks with the China Development Bank and JSC Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna regarding a potential corporate loan facility of aroun
Read moreLondon open: Footsie in the red
13th Oct 2009 08:35
Stocks have fallen in early trade, with miners aiding the decline and as investors wait nervously for a flood of results from the US. Miners Randgold, Lonmin, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto are lower on weaker metal prices. But Whitbread was hot property, adding more than 3% after it reported an impro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to drop slightly
13th Oct 2009 07:36
London's top stocks are expected to open slightly lower after finishing at their best levels in over a year Monday. Traders see Footsie drop around 10 points. Whitbread reported a 10.4% drop in first half pre-tax profits but said it is now seeing an improving trend at its budget hotel chain Premier
Read moreITV raises £120m as it keeps SDN
13th Oct 2009 07:25
Troubled broadcaster ITV is to raise £120m through an issue of convertible bonds as it reiterated it has no plans for a rights issue. "ITV intends to use the proceeds of the offering to extend its average debt maturity, diversify the company's funding and increase the efficiency of the balance she
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: ITV, Lloyds Banking, Dyson
13th Oct 2009 06:17
The multi-billion-pound self-certification mortgage industry, in which customers are not required to provide proof of income, is set to be banned by the financial regulator. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is effectively planning to kill off self-cert home loans by introducing a rule compell
Read moreLondon close: Best finish in 12½ months
12th Oct 2009 16:48
UK share prices finished at their best levels in over a year Monday and, despite a few sellers appearing late on, the FTSE 100 ended the session above 5,200. Insurers Old Mutual, Standard Life and Legal & General were in demand all day. Rising stock markets are always good news for their investment
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks' balance sheet issues resurface
12th Oct 2009 14:23
The Footsie crashed through the 5200 barrier this morning to rise to a one-year high and although prices came off the top over the lunch-time session, the vast majority of blue-chips are still in the blue. The upward trend in global equity markets is good news for the insurers and their investment
Read moreBroker tips: ITV, Ladbrokes, Speedy Hire
12th Oct 2009 12:36
The share price of bookmaker Ladbrokes has dived about 9% since the company announced a slide in profits and a cash call last Thursday, though things could have been worse, according to Nomura Securities. 'Judging by the market's reaction, it was expecting a weak Q3 [third quarter] trading update.
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie at year-high
12th Oct 2009 12:07
London's blue chips hit their best level since September last year as buyers charged in again following the strong performance on Wall Street last week. There are strong risers in most sectors with the notable exception of banks where Barclays and Lloyds Banking are both lower. Banking giant Barcl
Read moreBroker snap: Reviving ad revenues to cheer ITV
12th Oct 2009 12:07
Sir Michael Bishop, the former boss of airline BMI, has joined the lengthening list of people who do not want the chairman's job at ITV, but that has not stopped broker Goldman Sachs from advising its clients to buy shares in the company. Goldman Sachs has upgraded its recommendation on the terrest
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: IPF jumps on brighter outlook
12th Oct 2009 09:28
Shares in credit lender International Personal Finance (IPF) jumped after it said it had seen a recovery in trading that will result in its full year performance being 'materially ahead of current market expectations' if it continues. ITV shares are higher even after the broadcaster said that its h
Read moreLondon open: London makes healthy start
12th Oct 2009 08:50
London has made a bright start helped by the strong finish to last week on Wall Street. Index heavyweight Vodafone is ahead along with Unilever, Shire and Segro as buyers dominate. Only Invensys and Randgold Resources are significantly in the red. Banking giant Barclays is lower despite reports it
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