London afternoon: FTSE 250 stocks take a bashing
7th Apr 2011 15:12
The blue-chip index moved into positive territory over the lunch time trading session as the Bank of England removed all doubt about its current focus on the health of the economy, rather than the inflation risk, and kept its key lending rate unchanged. The European Central Bank, however, stuck to
Read moreSector movers: Talvivaara weighs down industrial metals stocks
7th Apr 2011 14:43
The industrial metals and mining sector is the worst performing sector today, led lower by Finnish miner Talvivaara. The company lowered annual production guidance to take into account longer than previously anticipated maintenance breaks, and believes it realistic to anticipate a production shortf
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks dominate risers
7th Apr 2011 14:12
The banking sector is making ground, offsetting losses by miners. Blue chip lenders are firmer in London after the Bank of England resisted calls to raise interest rates. The benchmark rate is unchanged at a record low of 0.5% and the quantitative easing programme has been maintained at £200bn. H
Read moreLondon midday: Shares unchanged after Bank holds rates
7th Apr 2011 12:21
Shares are little changed after the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 0.5%. The decision was expected, while the ECB is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since they were slashed in the wake of the financial crisis. Turning to stocks, the retail sector has come back
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&S tops the risers
6th Apr 2011 13:12
Retailers are providing a boost on Wednesday, with Marks & Spencer performing best among the blue chips. The group saw a sharp drop in like-for-like sales of clothes and other non-food items in the 13 weeks to 2 April, though the fall wasn't as severe as expected and overall sales growth was mainta
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: UK growth, Glencore, Google
6th Apr 2011 06:04
Britain's growth over the next three months will be roughly one third the pace of other major world economies, according to forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development. In an update that will dent the Chancellor's claim to be driving Britain back to competitive prosperity
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: UK a drag on 3i's performance
1st Apr 2011 17:08
The UK is letting the side down for private equity investor 3i, today's biggest faller among Footsie constituents. "Overall, the private equity portfolio has performed well," chief executive Michael Queen said. "There have, however, been marked regional differences, with strong growth in Northern
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars past 6,000
1st Apr 2011 16:38
Shares have moved back above the 6,000 point mark as economic data from the US stoked optimism. Private non-farm payrolls rose by 216,000 in March, versus consensus expectations for a 190,000 person increase. Also, the unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, to 8.8% (Consensus: 8.9%). Average hourly e
Read moreLondon afternoon: US jobs data provides fresh impetus
1st Apr 2011 14:28
The release of generally favourable US non-farm payrolls data has given London shares fresh impetus. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI fell unexpectedly to 57.1 points, against consensus expectations f
Read moreLondon midday: Shares rise ahead of US jobs data.
1st Apr 2011 12:03
Shares have added to their early gains on hopes that jobs data from the US later today will fuel global economic optimism. Non-farm payroll numbers are due at 1.30pm. Some disappointing factory data here has failed to dull investor appetite. The March UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index PMI
Read moreLondon open: Shares win back gains
1st Apr 2011 08:34
Shares have got off to a decent start, clawing back some of the gains that came in late trading yesterday. Banks, which had been awaiting yesterday afternoon's banking stress test results nervously, are leading the way today, with Barclays, Lloyds and RBS posting good gains. In other news, Marks
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: M&A rebound, Lloyds, Barclays
31st Mar 2011 06:04
US companies have returned to large strategic deal-making, helping to boost global mergers and acquisitions activity by 26% in the first quarter. Thanks to a flurry of big deals, US M&A activity jumped 84 per cent to $267bn in the first three months of the year, compared to the same period in 2010.
Read moreNext executives add to stakes
30th Mar 2011 16:42
All four of the Next executive directors have bought shares as part of the retailer's share matching plan. Chief executive Simon Wolfson has invested £335,000 by acquiring 16,439 shares at 2038.45p a share. Wolfson owns 1.64m shares, which is 0.91% of Next. Group product director Christo Angelid
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Cuts protest, Banks, BP...
27th Mar 2011 12:35
Retailers expressed their fury over lack of action by both the police and the Government after shops and businesses in London's West End were attacked and occupied in violent protests organised by splinter groups involved in yesterday's trade-union-organised anti-cuts march. Mobs attacked stores in
Read moreBroker tips: Next, easyJet, Lloyds Banking
24th Mar 2011 13:01
Next has revealed a strong set of results with inflation views moderating in the near-term, but Peel Hunt keeps its cautious stance on the retailer as its outlook suggest flat profits in the current year. Pre-tax profit for the 12 months ended January 2011 was up 9% at £551m, slightly above the bro
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