FTSE 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
Read moreBroker snap: Medium term bright at Lloyds
24th Mar 2011 11:53
Lloyds has underperformed the European banking sector by 8% in the year-to-date, but Evolution Securities says that the bank remains its "top conviction buy" because - beyond short-term risks - the rewards for investors are striking. However, Evolution notes that the short-term outlook is plagued w
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Budget break for first-time buyers
23rd Mar 2011 06:34
First-time buyers are to be helped on to the housing ladder as George Osborne seeks to use today's Budget to ease the pain of austerity Britain. Ten thousand people buying newly built homes will receive 20% of the cost from the Government and the builder in low-interest loans to put towards a depos
Read moreInvista Real Estate Management loses another contract
18th Mar 2011 18:29
Invista European Real Estate Trust (IERET) has terminated the investment management agreement with Invista Real Estate Investment Management's asset management subsidiary after it failed to agree to buy part of the business. The contract will come to an end on 18 September 2012. There were £463m o
Read moreLondon close: Strong end to a strong day
17th Mar 2011 16:49
London's blue chips were strong all day and boosted late on by a strong start in the US where the Dow notched up a triple-digit gain in quick time. For once, investors overlooked the ongoing bad news on the Japanese earthquake and turmoil in the Arab world to hunt out a few bargains. Heritage Oi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares kick on as US opens higher
17th Mar 2011 13:57
Share prices kicked on over the lunchtime session, boosted by a firm start on Wall Street, where the Dow has notched up a triple-digit gain in quick time. Though the focus remains on the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and any response to the turbulence it has caused in the financial markets
Read moreLloyds job losses approach 27,000
17th Mar 2011 13:42
Lloyds Banking Group is cutting another 570 jobs and closing its Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) mortgage range. The latest losses take the number axed since Lloyds, still 41%-owned by the British taxpayer, took over rival HBOS in 2008 to 26,770. Staff within the bank's wholesale, retail, insurance,
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