2nd Jan 2012 06:14
The European Banking Authority has estimated that Barclays will have €4bn (£3.3bn) of "deferred tax assets" this year, compared with €5bn at Royal Bank of Scotland, and €7.3bn at Lloyds Banking Group. Deferred tax assets are highly prized by companies because they can be set against tax claims to re
Read more30th Dec 2011 12:46
London's top shares clawed back into positive territory as investors bid farewell to a turbulent 2011. Financials recovered from earlier weakness. Barclays was up 0.89%, Royal Bank of Scotland added 0.35% and Lloyds Banking Group recovered 1.61% in subdued pre New Year trading. Oil giants BP and
Read more30th Dec 2011 11:38
London's top shares remained in the red in midday trading, with trading light on the ground ahead of Friday's earlier than usual lunchtime close. Oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell each fell 0.5% as crude oil prices eased. However BG Group broke the downward trend, rising 0.51% after it said one
Read more30th Dec 2011 09:44
London's leading shares fell in light trading with financial and commodity plays under pressure in the year's final half-day trading session. Banks such as Barclays fell 0.9%, Royal Bank of Scotland lost 0.9% and Lloyds Banking Group dropped 0.8% in subdued pre New Year trading. Oil giants BP an
Read more25th Dec 2011 11:45
Having had a quick shufti at the best performing FTSE 100 stocks of 2011, it is time to have a look at the clunkers. Indian reservations The curious thing about duff performers in the top-share index is that they don't stay in the Footsie if their share price decline continues for too long. As an
Read more22nd Dec 2011 16:25
The Footsie held on to gains by the close, helped by some helpful economic data at home and abroad. It seems as if the 'Santa rally' that many had put on their Christmas lists has finally started to bear fruit with London's blue chip index finished at the highest closing level since last Tuesday. B
Read more22nd Dec 2011 15:42
The banks were on the rise on Thursday afternoon helped by some helpful economic data at home and abroad. Lloyds led the way, followed closely by RBS and Old Mutual as stocks rallied on news that the UK gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% in the third quarter in volume terms versus the previo
Read more22nd Dec 2011 13:36
Better-than-expected GDP data helped to boost financials into the top ten. Lloyds led the way, followed closely by RBS and Old Mutual as stocks rallied on news that the UK gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% in the third quarter in volume terms versus the previous three months, according to th
Read more22nd Dec 2011 11:35
Gains were bolstered by midday on the FTSE 100 with some better-than-expected GDP data helping to boost sentiment. Financials were among the high risers of the day, with Schroders, Lloyds, RBS and Old Mutual among the best performers. UK gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.6% in the third quarte
Read more21st Dec 2011 12:58
Banks, in particular Lloyds, were on the rise today, despite credit ratings agency Moody's saying Britain's cherished triple-AAA credit rating could be under threat if the Eurozone crisis worsens. Moody's Investors Service said last night: "Any additional weakening in the macro-economic outlook or
Read more21st Dec 2011 11:39
The banks were providing a lift at midday, but the Footsie was registering only slight gains with only a few days before Christmas. Hopes of a 'Santa rally' seem to have been dampened towards midday by the suspension from trading of shares of Unicredit 'limit-down'. They have since resumed trading
Read more20th Dec 2011 15:29
Temporary power supplier Aggreko was leading the gains on the FTSE 100 on Tuesday, as investors continue to celebrate yesterday's news that full-year profits should come in slightly ahead of previous guidance. Media stocks were also on the rise with advertising giant WPP among the best performers i
Read more20th Dec 2011 11:54
London's blue chip index was slightly down at midday, despite a temporary stint in the blue, with heavyweight banking and pharmaceuticals stocks providing a drag. The Footsie nevertheless has been trading within a narrow range, with just 33 points separating the intraday low and high. The European
Read more19th Dec 2011 16:19
The Footsie tanked in late afternoon trade with the government's response to Sir John Vickers banking report weighing heavily on the banking sector. In a debate in the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said that lenders should be forced to ring-fence their high street len
Read more19th Dec 2011 14:21
The banks were among the worst performers of the day on Monday as they awaited a the government's response to proposed changes to the sector by the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB). The ICB has recommended that lenders should be forced to ring-fence their High Street lending operations from
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