London midday: Miners underpin FTSE 100 gains
2nd Feb 2011 12:09
Strong gains in the mining sector are helping to keep the top share index close to the 6,000 point mark. Results are also driving shares forward. The best performing miner in the FTSE 100, Eurasian National Resources (ENRC), said production was in line with expectations in the fourth quarter of 201
Read moreLondon open: Miners push Footsie above 6,000
2nd Feb 2011 08:26
Mining stocks are driving London higher in the early going as the price of copper rose to record levels in New York and London, following unexpectedly good US manufacturing figures yesterday. The giants of the mining sector, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, are both sporting solid gains, as are Lonmin,
Read moreJohnson Matthey sees FY ahead of forecasts
2nd Feb 2011 07:29
Speciality chemicals group Johnson Matthey said its underlying performance for the full year is expected to be slightly ahead of previous company expectations after third quarter profit rose by 34%. The third quarter performance was driven as demand in its key markets remained robust, the group sa
Read moreJohnson Matthey abandons chemicals sale
10th Dec 2010 07:50
Johnson Matthey has abandoned plans to sell its UK-based Vertec titanate and zirconate chemicals businesses to Indian group Dorf Ketal following a Competition Commission inquiry. In a statement, the Commission said the two companies had indicated the deal had been scrapped and it was teminating its
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aggreko's US buy
3rd Dec 2010 13:12
Temporary power and temperature control specialist Aggreko is higher following a US acquisition that increases its presence in the oil and gas market. Aggreko is paying $26m for Northland Power Services, a leading provider of power solutions for the oil and gas exploration and production market in
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Hampson, Johnson Matthey, Sportingbet
25th Nov 2010 06:41
For investors in Hampson Industries, take-off has been a long time coming. A year ago the maker of tools and composite structures for the aerospace industry agreed new terms with lenders on its £141 million debt, but this was not enough to head off a £59.5 million rights issue in February. The share
Read moreLondon close: US jobs data lifts sentiment
24th Nov 2010 16:44
Footsie put its early uncertainty behind it to close with good gains, helped by strong jobs figures from the US which cheered global markets following the jitteriness of the last couple of days. First-time jobless claims fell by a bigger than expected 34,000 to 407,000 in the week ended 20 November
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rolls celebrates another big order
24th Nov 2010 14:36
Barely a dozen or so FTSE 100 constituents are in the red today as the blue-chip index sets about clawing back some of the losses of the last two days, despite continued concerns about the Irish debt crisis and the military tensions in Korea. Better than expected jobs data from the US put investors
Read moreLondon midday: Shares holding on
24th Nov 2010 12:24
Shares remain in the blue after some well-received company updates this morning, although the euro crisis is still looming in the background. Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has cut its debt rating for Ireland as the Irish government puts the finishing touches to a four-year plan to
Read moreLondon open: Footsie opens higher
24th Nov 2010 08:46
London has opened better than expected thanks to a rebound by the miners and a smattering of good trading updates. There has also been some easing of tension in Korea, though not in Europe where the EU is heaping pressure on Ireland to agree to its bail-out. UK banks are weak again becasue of the
Read moreLondon pre-open: Bad news for Footsie
24th Nov 2010 07:35
A three-figure retreat on Wall Street overnight looks like turning City dealing screens red in opening deals, with tensions in Korea and debt fears in Europe casting a cloud. The Dow Jones fell more than 140 points Tuesday and London is expected to lose 40 points in no time at all, according to fut
Read moreJohnson Matthey expects good second half
24th Nov 2010 07:05
Speciality chemicals group Johnson Matthey saw good growth in most of its markets in the first half, especially catalysts for light duty vehicles in North America and Asia. Profit before tax rose to £144.1m in the half-year to 30 September from £109.5m the year before. Underlying profit before tax
Read moreWednesday preview: UU, Compass, Johnson Matthey
23rd Nov 2010 18:30
Like Severn Trent, which posted interim results on Tuesday, United Utilities' interims will be the first set of results under the new price control regime that runs until 2015. Charles Stanley expects profits of £163m and EPS of 17.5p. The dividend is expected to be 12% lower at 9.8p. "UU has head
Read moreWeek ahead: US GDP, Mitchells & Butlers, Severn Trent...
19th Nov 2010 15:22
Pubs group Mitchells & Butlers' recent nine week trading update highlighted a 3.6% like-for-like sales improvement on last year. Food sales were, as usual, the driver of growth but even the "wet" side of the business saw a pick-up. Brokers now expect the All Bar One and Harvester owner to post pro
Read moreLondon close: Weak end to dull day
14th Oct 2010 16:35
Leading shares closed lower on a poor day for the banks and a tumble for African Barrick. Fears that Standard Chartered's rights issue yesterday could be the start of a flood of cash calls unsettled Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays. Metal prices are back on the rise as the dollar heads
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