Sector movers: RBS, Lloyds lift banking sector on FSA decision
10th Oct 2012 17:17
Banking stocks finished strongly on Wednesday after it was revealed that the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has eased certain capital buffers. Banks will now not need to hold extra capital against lending that qualifies for 'Funding for Lending', meaning that loans given under the government's
Read moreLondon close: Global slowdown concerns weigh on stocks
10th Oct 2012 17:00
London's FTSE 100 index registered its third consecutive day in negative territory as uncertainty surrounding the outlook for the global economy continued to weigh on investor sentiment. "Financial markets struggled to find direction today, drifting into the red as persistent fears over slowing glo
Read moreFSA loosens capital rules for banks
10th Oct 2012 15:33
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has eased capital buffers for the UK's largest banks, meaning that loans given through the government's 'Funding for Lending' (FLS) scheme can be effectively be classed as risk-free. According to The Financial Times on Tuesday night, the move "puts Britain at
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks top risers after FSA decision
10th Oct 2012 15:22
Banking peers Lloyds and RBS were leading the risers today after the Financial Times reported that the FSA has eased capital and liquidity rules in an attempt to boost lending. Meanwhile, according to reports this morning, RBS has agreed to sell two buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin to Axa Investm
Read moreLondon midday: Banking stocks gain, yet Footsie falls
10th Oct 2012 11:32
- IMF warns about Eurozone crisis - Unions call for strikes in Greece - Banks gain on speculation of eased capital rules UK stocks suffered more losses on Wednesday in spite of some relative strength in the banking sector, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned about the risks emanating f
Read moreUS investment firms bid for Lloyds Irish loans
10th Oct 2012 09:34
US investment firms Lone Star Funds and Kennedy-Wilson Holdings are among remaining bidders for parts of about two billion euros of mainly Irish real estate loans that Lloyds is selling, according to Bloomberg reports. Lloyds has attracted bids of 10 to 15 cents in the euro for the so-called Pittl
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall on growth concerns again
10th Oct 2012 08:45
- Growth concerns take down stocks again - Alcoa trims demand forecast - Banks could need to shrink assets, says IMF The FTSE 100 was heading for its third consecutive day in the red, starting Wednesday's session on the back foot with global growth concerns continuing to weigh on sentiment. Trader
Read moreLondon midday: Worries over growth hit the miners
8th Oct 2012 11:41
- Global growth concerns weigh on cyclicals - Investors worries about Eurozone uncertainty - Evraz sinks after gloomy broker comments After a steep fall early on, the FTSE 100 traded sideways for most of the morning session with cyclical stocks (including the miners and banks) dampened by concerns
Read moreLondon open: Stocks dented by global growth concerns
8th Oct 2012 08:21
- World Bank cuts forecasts for China - Evraz leads miners lower - BAE drops on risks to EADS merger UK stocks slid sharply on Monday morning with mining and financial shares weighing on the FTSE 100 early on as concerns over the global economy spurred a move away from 'risk'. The World Bank has c
Read moreMonday broker round-up - UPDATE
8th Oct 2012 08:03
AMEC: Investec keeps buy rating and 1,300p target. Aquarius Platinum: Panmure Gordon keeps buy rating and 163p target. BAE Systems: Societe Generale upgrades to hold, target lifted from 300p to 350p. British American Tobacco: Nomua raises target from 3,500p to 3,506p, buy rating kept. BSkyB: Nom
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Greece, BAE Systems, Britain´s banks
7th Oct 2012 18:06
Greece cannot have more time to repay its debt to the European Central Bank because it would be illegal and "illogical", board member Joerg Asmussen has said, as he shut the door on pleas for leniency from the bank. Mr Asmussen said that the ECB could not lengthen the time period for loans to Greece
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Marstons, British lenders, Dunelm
4th Oct 2012 07:08
The Times Tempus column tips Marston's, which is investing spare cash in new-build freehold pubs offering informal eating and drinking in a pleasant environment. The benefit of this strategy was evident in yesterday's pre-close trading update. Marston's revealed that a revaluation of its pub estate
Read moreWednesday broker round-up - UPDATE
3rd Oct 2012 09:06
African Barrick Gold: Westhouse Secuirites raises target from 464p to 495p. AG Barr: Panmure Gordon keeps hold rating and 440p target. AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon downgrades from buy to hold, target cut from 3,100p to 3,000p. Barclays: UBS downgrades from buy to neutral, 235p target unchanged. B
Read moreLondon close: Spanish concerns dampen stocks
2nd Oct 2012 16:37
- Moody's to reveal Spanish review this month - Banks provide a drag on the Footsie - Bumi and Bank of Georgia are big movers on FTSE 250 After a morning rally into the blue, the Footsie had dropped back into negative territory by the close of trade on Tuesday with uncertainty surrounding Spain con
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Babcock boosted by buoyant markets
2nd Oct 2012 15:51
Engineering support firm Babcock was performing well today after saying it was enjoying buoyant markets as customers turned to it to make cost savings. Jefferies, Seymour Pierce and Investec all hailed the first-half trading update as "in line", maintaining their 'buy' ratings for the stock while sa
Read more