London pre-open: Surge to continue
17th Sep 2009 07:47
With Wall Street finishing higher yesterday traders in London see no reason for the party to end this side of the Atlantic, and blue-chip shares are forecast to open mostly firmer. The FTSE 100 index is expected to open around 46 points higher. A strong performance from B&Q helped DIY retailer K
Read moreB&Q leads Kingfisher improvement
17th Sep 2009 07:05
A strong performance from B&Q helped DIY retailer Kingfisher post a sharp rise in pre-tax profits in the half year to August 1. Pre-tax profits for the period came in at £201m, compared with £146m over the same period the previous year as revenues climbed 7.3% to £5.5bn from £5.1bn. Revenues were
Read moreThursday preview: Kingfisher, Booker, Kier
16th Sep 2009 17:46
DIY retailer Kingfisher issues interim results that are likely to see a recovery in profitability, albeit with some help from favourable currency movements. Owing to accidental distribution of in-house figures to some City analysts Kingfisher had to rush out a profit statement on 8 September, so we
Read moreLondon afternoon: Weak retailers out of step
15th Sep 2009 14:18
Leading shares are consolidating the morning's gains, though retailers decline to join the party. Confusion and speculation surrounds the acquisition and fund raising intentions of general insurer RSA. Reports in today's FT suggest RSA indicated at a recent investors conference that it was looking
Read moreComment: Predators stalking big game
11th Sep 2009 13:37
Merger mania has been sparked this week by the Kraft bid for Cadbury and the proposed joint-venture between the UK operations of mobile phone operators Orange and T-Mobile, with pundits posing the question: who’s next? Stockbroker Killik has identified five big names that might be on the takeover m
Read moreWeek Ahead: Kingfisher, Next, Retail Sales
11th Sep 2009 11:52
In a week when UK retail sales figures for August are due to be published it is appropriate that the major company results announcements are from two retailers. DIY retailer Kingfisher issues interim results on Thursday that are likely to see a recovery in profitability, albeit with some help from
Read moreLondon close: Footsie clings on to gains
8th Sep 2009 17:01
Leading London shares closed mixed, with strong gains on resource stocks counter-balanced by losses on life assurance stocks. Kazakhmys, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Vedanta Resources led the mining sector higher, as metal prices improved. Gold miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources were
Read moreLondon afternoon: Holiday stocks take flight
8th Sep 2009 13:56
After opening brightly London's leading shares have been treading water since the middle of the morning. Kazakhmys, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Vedanta Resources lead the mining sector higher, as metal prices improve. Gold miner Randgold Resources is wanted after the price of gold bullio
Read moreLondon midday: Gold shines to push Footsie higher
8th Sep 2009 11:56
Gold pushing through the $1,000 per ounce mark has helped Footsie post decent gains in the morning session with miners generally in demand again. Kazakhmys, Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Xstrata, Randgold Resources and Vedanta Resources lead the mining sector higher. It is third time that
Read moreSector movers: Retail rises as Kingfisher takes off
8th Sep 2009 08:50
Kingfisher, the company behind B&Q and Homebase, is lifting the retail sector after saying adjusted pre-tax profit for the six months to 1 August will be between £285m and £290m. DSG International, which owns the Currys and PC World chains, is also higher after appointing Tim How, former boss of Ma
Read moreLondon open: Footsie still on the rise
8th Sep 2009 08:40
London's blue chips are on the rise again this morning ahead of Wall Street's return following Monday's public holiday. Kingfisher is going well after it mistakenly circulated some draft figures on Monday afternoon. That has foreced the DIY retailer to admit this morning that adjusted pre-tax profi
Read moreLondon pre-open: Bright start predicted
8th Sep 2009 07:36
The leading index is expected to extend yesterday's gains by about 10 points in early deals ahead of Wall Street's return following Monday's public holiday. Kingfisher mistakenly circulated some draft figures on Monday afternoon, forcing the DIY retailer to admit this morning that adjusted pre-tax
Read moreKingfisher error forces early profit statement
8th Sep 2009 07:03
Kingfisher mistakenly circulated some draft figures on Monday afternoon, forcing the DIY retailer to admit that adjusted pre-tax profit for the six months to 1 August will be between £285m and £290m, much better than expected. The B&Q owner, which hadn't been due to report its interims until 17 Sep
Read moreBroker tips: Game, general retailers, Safestore
1st Sep 2009 13:24
Charles Stanley has reiterated its cautious stance on the UK general retail sector and warned against reading too much into what are likely to be good fourth quarter year-on-year sales figures, as most retailers will be going up against soft comparatives. DIY retailer Kingfisher is the highest scor
Read moreBroker snap: General retailers not cheap
1st Sep 2009 13:07
Charles Stanley has reiterated its cautious stance on the UK general retail sector and warned against reading too much into what are likely to be good fourth quarter year-on-year sales figures, as most retailers will be going up against soft comparatives. 'We would caution against any extrapolation
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