London midday: RSA's bid plans unclear
15th Sep 2009 12:11
After a quiet but tospy-turvy session the blue-chip index ended the morning in positive territory, despite the UK inflation picture not improving as much in August as expected. The UK Consumer Prices Index in August showed an annual increase of 1.6%, the lowest since level since February 2005 and do
Read moreLondon close: Footsie fights back
14th Sep 2009 16:34
After toiling in the red all day, Footsie made a late push into positive territory to close above the 5,000 point mark. Miners were weak spot. Reports over the weekend suggested some commentators are concerned by the amount of speculative money that is flowing into the minerals sector. Meanwhile co
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Oil shares slip with crude price
14th Sep 2009 14:15
Oil shares have taken over from the miners as the weak spot today. The price of crude has fallen back to under $69 per barrel, clipping recent gains in Cairn Energy, Tullow and BG, which announced a monster oil find in Brazil last week. Marks & Spencer picked up as Morgan Stanley upped its price ta
Read moreLondon afternoon: Resource stocks lose favour
14th Sep 2009 14:11
Resource stocks are friendless today as oil and metals prices shift into reverse. Reports over the weekend suggested some commentators are concerned by the amount of speculative money that is flowing into the minerals sector. Meanwhile copper prices have fallen for the fourth day in a row on over-s
Read moreSector movers: Chemical sector reacts to Johnson Matthey downgrade
14th Sep 2009 14:00
Johnson Matthey is helping drag the chemicals sector lower. The platinum refiner and catalytic converter maker was downgraded to 'equal-weight' from 'overweight' at Morgan Stanley. Elsewhere in chemicals, Plant Health Care falls back slightly after depressed agricultural markets resulted in widenin
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie stuck in the red
14th Sep 2009 12:32
Miners continue to weigh on the leading share index. ENRC and Kazakhmys are lower. Reports over the weekend suggested some commentators are concerned by the amount of speculative money that is flowing into the sector. Cooper prices have fallen for the fourth day in a row. Platinum refiner Johnson
Read moreBroker tips: Johnson Matthey, JD Wetherspoon, Tarsus
14th Sep 2009 12:30
Shares in speciality chemicals group Johnson Matthey fell back after Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating on the stock to 'equal-weight' from 'overweight.' The broker raises its price target on the firm to 1,450p from 1,400p, but sees little upside potential beyond this. It says its downgrade of
Read moreBroker snap: Downgrade takes shine off Johnson Matthey
14th Sep 2009 12:27
Shares in speciality chemicals group Johnson Matthey fell back after Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating on the stock to 'equal-weight' from 'overweight.' The broker raises its price target on the firm to 1,450p from 1,400p, but sees little upside potential beyond this. It says its downgrade of
Read moreLondon open: Dull start to week
14th Sep 2009 08:47
Footsie has dipped below 5,000 this morning with miners running into profit taking on talk that the recent metal price rally has run too far. Johnson Matthey, ENRC and Kazakhmys are the worst performers. Reports over the weekend suggested some commentators are concerned by the amount of speculative
Read moreLondon close: Shares plunge as sell-off continues
17th Aug 2009 16:09
The global sell-off triggered by weak consumer confidence figures from the US on Friday continued, sending Footsie deep into the red. US stocks are also trading deep in the red as traders worry that nervous consumers will dampen the economic recovery. Asian markets were down overnight despite Jap
Read moreLondon afternoon: Equities pare losses
17th Aug 2009 14:46
The FTSE 100 had a good lunch-time session, trimming the morning's losses, but it remains firmly in the red, with miners leading the way down. Concerns grow about the health of the US economy are weighing on mining companies. With consumers reticent to play their part in a demand-led recovery inves
Read moreLondon midday: Deep in the red
17th Aug 2009 11:59
London's benchmark index is posting deep losses as miners weigh on the market on worries that the recent gains may have been overdone. Concerns grow about the health of the US economy following Friday's dismal consumer sentiment data. Asian markets were down overnight, while US futures also point l
Read moreXP Power chairman spends £200k
4th Aug 2009 16:04
XP Power, which manufacturers power controllers for electrical equipment, saw its executive chairman raise his stake in the group. Larry Tracey bought 80,000 shares for £204,000, or £2.55 each. He has increased his holding to 2.66m, which is nearly 14% of the group. XP Power yesterday saw pre-tax
Read moreNew Johnson Matthey finance boss takes stake
22nd Jul 2009 17:09
Johnson Matthey's incoming finance boss Robert Macleod has signalled his commitment to his new employers by spending £37,000 on shares in the speciality chemicals company. He bought 3,000 at 1,236p a time, his first purchase of shares in the company, which refines platinum and makes catalysts for c
Read moreWeak demand still weighing on Johnson Matthey
21st Jul 2009 07:01
Car catalyst provider Johnson Matthey expects second quarter results to be similar to those in the first quarter as the downturn in the car industry continues to hits demand for autocatalysts. The group said demand for automotive products was well down on the same period last year, though sales in
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