London midday: Trading suspended on LSE
26th Nov 2009 12:07
Banks shares are leading the market lower today as investors fret about the debt situation in Dubai. The government owned Dubai World, which has debts of $59bn, has asked creditors if it can delay debt repayments due next month until May of next year. HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Tesco, Reckitt Benckiser, Ladbrokes
20th Nov 2009 06:28
Tesco's telecoms arm threatened a price war with the likes of BT, Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse as it unveiled plans yesterday to offer bundled broadband and home phone packages for the first time. Britain's biggest retailer announced that it had signed a five-year deal with Cable & Wireless
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: ITN, Queen's speech, L&G
19th Nov 2009 06:16
ITN will reveal its first-ever loss on Thursday as the new chief executive outlines austerity measures aimed at putting the organisation back into the black. John Hardie, who came into the job in June, will tell his 800 journalists and commercial staff that the organisation lost "a significant amoun
Read moreLondon close: Miners power Footsie gains
9th Nov 2009 16:31
Mining stocks were at the vanguard of a strong advance from FTSE 100 as commodity prices were boosted by plans outlined by world leaders over the weekend to continue with stimulus measures. Kazakhmys, Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Vedanta were some of the best performers in the mining sector. Mining g
Read moreLondon afternoon: Cadbury rejects Kraft bid
9th Nov 2009 14:23
After all the waiting and speculation, the formal bid for Cadbury from US group Kraft Foods proved a disappointment, but it has not dampened sentiment in a buoyant London market. Kraft formally announced a bid for Cadbury on the same terms as the indicative offer announced at the beginning of Septe
Read moreSector movers: Insurers in demand
9th Nov 2009 13:56
Insurance stocks are going well after a strong performance from German insurer Allianz over the third quarter. Allianz was helped by strong performances from life insurance and asset management and saw operating profit climb by 23%. The best performer in the sector here is Prudential, which may be
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie bursts through 5200
9th Nov 2009 11:58
With the price of gold crashing through the $1,100 and other metal prices on the up, miners are leading a strong advance by Footsie. Demand for mining stocks has been spurred by comments at the close of the G20 summit pledging a continuing commitment to providing economic stimulation to the world e
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Axa's Asia move lights up life sector
9th Nov 2009 10:57
Life insurers lead the way forward this morning, excited by Axa and AMP's joint $10bn bid for their associate and Far East focused fund manager Axa Asia Pacific. Prudential is the best performer. It too has a significant and fast growing Asian operation and analysts are drawing a line through the p
Read moreLondon open: Miners and insurers lead the charge
9th Nov 2009 08:55
Leading shares have made a confident start to the week following the latest G20 meeting, with insurers and miners leading the way higher. A statement issued after this weekend’s G20 summit reassured marlkets that there would be no premature withdrawal of economic stimulus packages. “The recovery
Read morePost-warning Tribal purchase
4th Nov 2009 16:14
Tribal non-executive director John Ormerod's wife Pamela has taken advantage of the post-profit warning fall in the share price to buy an initial 50,000 shares at 69.25p each. The share price of the public sector and education services provider was more than 100p three weeks ago. Ormerod was app
Read moreLondon close: Footsie down but above 5,000
3rd Nov 2009 16:24
London's blue chips ended off session lows and back above the 5,000 level, helped by positive reaction to announcements from Lloyds Banking and Legal & General. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) remained resolutely out of favour, however, as the market reacted negatively to the revised terms of its part
Read moreLondon afternoon: Market licking its wounds
3rd Nov 2009 14:11
The FTSE 100 index clawed its way back above the 5,000 level over the lunch-time session, helped by positive reaction to announcements from Lloyds Banking and Legal & General. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) remains resolutely out of favour, however, as the market reacted negatively to the revised ter
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks split after latest cash calls
3rd Nov 2009 13:54
Banks dominate the day as investors try to get their heads around the sheer size of the sums being pumped into Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds. Lloyds is the best performer on hopes that once it is clear of the government's asset protection scheme it might be able to make something of its disatro
Read moreLondon midday: Retreat turns into a rout
3rd Nov 2009 12:08
The list of FTSE 100 constituents is bereft of risers, as stocks move swiftly into reverse while the market digests developments relating to the part-nationalised UK banks. The government is injecting another £25.5bn into Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), with a further £8bn available if things get wo
Read moreLondon open: Mixed reception for latest bank rescues
3rd Nov 2009 08:52
Footsie is lower as investors assess confirmation of bonus curbs, dividend cuts and asset sales from Royal Bank of Scotland and a £21bn cash call from Lloyds Banking Group. RBS will not be allowed to pay dividends for the next two years and have to divest its insurance arm and a raft of other busin
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