London midday: Broker tip lifts RBS
4th Jan 2010 12:10
Leading shares moved into consolidation mode late in the morning session, with resource stocks the best performers. Cairn Energy remains the top gainer on news that the oil explorer has secured a second drilling rig to assist its exploration programme in the Disko West area offshore Greenland in th
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks lead market lower
17th Dec 2009 15:48
Banks fell after the US Federal Reserve pointed out that it will end its special liquidity measures early next year. Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays are the biggest fallers. Mining companies were also much lower because the strength of the dollar has hit commodity prices. Xstrata and Antofagasta
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds Banking, Miners, Kingfisher
4th Dec 2009 12:47
Societe Generale (SocGen) reckons the faster than expected stabilisation of the net interest margin at part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking has been overlooked, and sees further scope for margin improvement as the company reduces its reliance on government funding. 'Looking ahead, while Lloyds c
Read moreBroker snap: Kingfisher debt improving
4th Dec 2009 11:19
UBS has maintained its 'buy' recommendation on Kingfisher after the DIY group issued a forecast beating quarterly update on Thursday. 'Retail profit beat our forecast by c£10m, with France and International ahead, and B&Q lagging from clearance costs,' the broker said. Following the trading state
Read moreLondon close: Miners eclipse banks to send index lower
3rd Dec 2009 16:35
London closed on a low note as a good day for bank shares was offset by dips for the miners and oil groups. Banking shares marched forward despite an assertion by influential US bank Goldman Sachs that commodity prices are set to rise in 2010. Goldman Sachs also seems to be out of step in its view
Read moreLondon midday: Shares lack direction
3rd Dec 2009 12:11
Banking shares are still marching forward but gains are countered by weakness among miners, despite an assertion by influential US bank Goldman Sachs that commodity prices are set to rise in 2010. Goldman Sachs also seems to be out of step in its view of banks today, having downgraded the sector to
Read moreLondon open: Banks lead risers, RBS down
3rd Dec 2009 08:21
Barclays and Lloyds are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings on Thursday, though Royal Bank of Scotland is an exception. RBS has dropped on news that that the bank's board is threatening to resign en masse if Alistair Darling will veto the group's £1.5bn bonus pot. On the positive
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early strength expected
3rd Dec 2009 07:35
London looks set for a push higher in early deals as metal prices continue to rise and with US futures pointing to a stronger start on Wall Street later. Indications are that the FTSE 100 will add about 30 points this morning, adding to yesterday's 15-point gain. In company news, Xstrata has appro
Read moreKingfisher sees quarterly profit jump
3rd Dec 2009 07:17
DIY group Kingfisher reported a 2.4% rise in sales and sharply higher profits in the third quarter thanks to the strong performance of its B&Q brand in the UK and Poland. Sales in the 13 weeks ended 31 October came to £2.69bn, up 5.6% on a reported basis and up 2.4% in constant currencies. Like-for
Read moreThursday preview: Kingfisher, Halma, Marstons
2nd Dec 2009 17:57
DIY group Kingfisher, owner of the B&Q brand, gives an update on Thursday on third quarter sales. The situation at the half-year stage was not as bad as might have been expected given the moribund state of the UK housing market. Indeed, the company may have benefited from the trend for householder
Read moreSector movers: Mark Bolland move shakes up retail stocks
18th Nov 2009 13:15
It's a tale of two retail sectors after Marks & Spencer announced the appointment of supermarket Morrisons' boss Mark Bolland as its new chief executive. He will take up the position in the new year. Bolland joined Morrisons in September 2006, helping the Bradford-based supermarket recover from i
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for sluggish Footsie
9th Oct 2009 16:31
Footsie ended the week without any real sense of direction, holding onto gains posted earlier in the week. Vedanta Resources was the weakest stock in a soft mining sector after Goldman Sachs said Vedanta's aluminium, zinc and iron ore facilities were lower than Goldman had expected. Lower industri
Read moreLondon afternoon: Vedanta leads miners lower
9th Oct 2009 14:29
Mining stocks remain a proverbial albatross round the market's neck, dragging the Footsie below last night's closing level despite some interest in consumer stocks. Vedanta Resources is the weakest stock in a soft mining sector after Goldman Sachs said Vedanta's aluminium, zinc and iron ore facilit
Read moreFTSE 100 movers; Vedanta leads miners lower
9th Oct 2009 13:38
Vedanta Resources is the weakest stock in a soft mining sector after Goldman Sachs said Vedanta's volumes through its aluminium, zinc and iron ore facilities were lower than expected. Lower industrial metals prices also drag down Antofagasta, ENRC and Anglo American, while gold's pull back from it
Read moreLondon midday: Flat morning for Footsie
9th Oct 2009 12:05
London ended the morning session flat with good demand for consumer stocks offsetting some profit taking among mining shares Losses on mining stocks such as Antofagasta, Vedanta and Kazakhmys have lengthened during the session as metal prices remain on a downward trajectory. Gold has fallen back f
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