London close: Optimistic mood ahead of Eurogroup, but risks remain
17th Feb 2012 17:10
-Merkel optimistic about Eurogroup meeting. -Miners lead gains on Footsie. -Retailer rise on economic data. London's benchmark index finished the week strongly - up 53 points on last Friday's close of 5,852 - as markets expressed confidence that the next Greek bailout can be secured on Monday. Af
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Hopes for Greece boost stocks
17th Feb 2012 14:32
Miners were in demand today, buoyed by rising metals prices which leapt on optimism over a Greek bailout. The latest reports from the troubled country are pointing to confirmation of the European Central Bank's participation in the debt swap and an increased control over the bailout by Eurozone offi
Read moreWeek Ahead: Tax-payers' banks set to report
17th Feb 2012 13:09
The bean-counters at Her Majesty's Treasury will be taking more than a passing interest in company results next week as part-nationalised lenders Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking both publish full year results. Forecasts by investment analysts can be made to look daft by unforeseen n
Read moreLondon midday: Greek optimism lifts the Footsie
17th Feb 2012 11:41
- Footsie rises as Greek optimism boosts buying. - Resources stocks track commodities prices higher. - UK retail sales beat expectations. The FTSE 100 had held on to gains by lunchtime - keeping its head above the 5,900 mark - as Greece comes ever closer to its crucial second bailout. Meanwhile a
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on Greek optimism
17th Feb 2012 08:24
- Footsie rises as Greek optimism boosts buying. - Resources stocks track commodities prices higher. - Record underlying earnings for Anglo American. London's blue chips recovered after yesterday's fall with the Footsie rising strongly in early trading on Friday on reports of measures by European l
Read moreLondon close: Losses pared after US data, Greece still a concern
16th Feb 2012 16:35
- Losses pared after US data. - Miners track metals prices lower. - European leaders weighing up ECB role in Greek aid. London's blue chip index finished in the red on Thursday but well off its intraday lows after US economic data came in stronger than expected in the afternoon. Nonetheless, concer
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Reed Elsevier leads risers, while banks and miners fall
16th Feb 2012 14:51
Information solutions provider Reed Elsevier jumped into pole position after seeing underlying revenues increase 2% in 2011, with all five business areas contributing to growth except the Exhibitions division, which was held back by biennial cycling. Nomura said today that the group's valuation - wi
Read moreOFT tells banks to play fair
16th Feb 2012 14:23
Do better by personal account customers or you'll be forced - that was the message behind a speech given by head of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). John Fingleton said competition in the banking system has not functioned well for too long, despite a string of investigations into personal banking,
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks off lows but still firmly in the red
16th Feb 2012 11:40
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - Real Eurozone GDP forecasts slashed in ECB survey. The FTSE 100 has come off its intraday low of 5,831 but still remains firmly in the red as delays in Greece, a warning to banks from Moody's an
Read moreLondon open: Stocks weighed down by Greece, Moody's
16th Feb 2012 08:35
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - BAE Systems tumbles after results. London's blue chip index sank in early trading on Thursday, with just five stocks on the rise, as the Greek bailout faces fresh delays. Meanwhile, Moody's warn
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividend stocks provide a drag
15th Feb 2012 14:46
Drugs giant AstraZeneca plunged into bottom spot, followed by sector peer GlaxoSmithKline and big oil players BP and Shell, after all four went ex-dividend today. Shares of ITV took a hit following a downgrade from Peel Hunt. The broker said that with the shares of the broadcaster having gained ste
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish lower on macro concerns
14th Feb 2012 16:24
-Banks, miners weigh on Footsie. -Markets digest sovereign downgrades from Moody's. -Investors await Eurogroup meeting tomorrow. UK stocks finished in the red on Tuesday as concerns over the state of the Eurozone continued to weigh on sentiment. Trade was volatile as mid-morning gains on the back o
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Bunzl in top spot after rating upgrade
14th Feb 2012 13:47
Distribution and outsourcing firm Bunzl was the top of the risers list after JP Morgan upped its recommendation from neutral to overweight on valuation grounds. "We believe that the recent relative underperformance could be a good entry point ahead of FY results on 27 February," the US broker said.
Read moreLondon midday: German ZEW survey provides a boost to UK stocks
14th Feb 2012 11:48
- German ZEW expectations index swings into positive territory. - Moody's downgrades six nations, cuts outlook for three others to negative. - Bunzl, Barclays higher after broker upgrades. After an initial slump on the back of a mass downgrade of European sovereigns by Moody's, a sharp rise was rec
Read moreLondon close: Greek optimism buoys Footsie
13th Feb 2012 16:39
- Stocks rise as Greece approves austerity package. - CBI cuts UK GDP forecasts. - Vodafone confirms potential takeover of C&W Worldwide. Stocks managed to hold on to gains on Monday as Greece moves one step closer to securing the next crucial tranche of aid. Mining and financial stocks led the ri
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