London afternoon: Downward drift continues
9th Mar 2011 14:16
Blue-chip shares drifted lower still over the lunchtime session though a number of bright spots can be found, particularly among second liners. Insurer Prudential is in demand after saying it made 20% more in 2010 than it did the year before as Asia raced ahead of the US as the UK company's bigges
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 seeking direction
9th Mar 2011 12:02
Shares are moving in both directions after updates, but the FTSE 100 sits a few points lower. Insurer Prudential is in demand after saying it made 20% more in 2010 than it did the year before as Asia raced ahead of the US as the UK company's biggest earner. Group operating profit before tax on a Eu
Read moreLondon open: Early falls despite Pru show of strength
9th Mar 2011 08:43
London has slipped lower in early dealings, despite good numbers from Prudential and a strong performance on Wall Street overnight as oil prices fell back. Insurer Prudential made 20% more in 2010 than it did the year before as Asia raced ahead of the US as the UK company's biggest earner. Group o
Read moreTwo leave as new Lloyds chief shakes up board
9th Mar 2011 07:11
New Lloyds Banking chief executive António Horta-Osório has stamped his authority with a shake-up of the retail bank and insurance divisions and the departure of two senior directors. Archie Kane, Group Executive Director for Insurance and Scotland, and Helen Weir, Group Executive Director for Ret
Read moreLibDems want bank share giveaway
7th Mar 2011 12:01
The UK taxpayer's stakes in Lloyds Banking and Royal Bank of Scotland could be given away free to the British public under proposals unveiled by the Liberal Democrats. The UK taxpayer acquired 84% of RBS and 43% of Lloyds as a result of a series of bail-outs, totalling £66bn, during the worst of th
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds Banking, AB Foods, Bunzl
28th Feb 2011 15:28
Japanese broker Nomura is still bullish on Lloyds Banking Group which tomorrow welcomes on board new chief executive António Horta-Osório. Last week's full-year profit was in line with the analysts' expectations, with lower revenues and slightly higher costs offset by a much lower impairment charg
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura still backing Lloyds
28th Feb 2011 14:59
Japanese broker Nomura is still bullish on Lloyds Banking Group which tomorrow welcomes on board new chief executive António Horta-Osório. Last week's full-year profit was in line with the analysts' expectations, with lower revenues and slightly higher costs offset by a much lower impairment charge
Read moreLondon afternoon: Lloyds left behind
25th Feb 2011 14:15
Share prices moved sideways over the lunch time session, but at least they were moving; the London Stock Exchange, which recently switched over to a new computer system, suffered an embarrassing glitch which resulted in the exchange shutting down for most of the morning. Shares have been lifted by
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds heads fallers
25th Feb 2011 13:09
Lloyds Banking is the main faller today following the release of its 2010 figures. Pre-tax profits were £281m, down from £1bn, but on a continuing basis profits were £2.2bn against a loss of £6.4bn. Market forecasts had been for a profit between £1-1.8bn. The £2.2bn profit excluded the £500m pro
Read moreLondon midday: Shares bounce after trading resumes
25th Feb 2011 12:28
Shares are buoyant following the resumption of trading after this morning's shutdown. Shares began trading as normal this morning but technical problems later caused the exchange to shut down. "The exchange regrets the inconvenience that has been caused to market participants by this morning's inc
Read moreLondon open: Trading suspended
25th Feb 2011 08:53
Trading in London has been halted after some technical glitches at the start of the day, the LSE announced this morning. The exchange said it is looking into the problem. It halted its SETS and SETSqx services, while uncrossing trades that took place in the opening auction are under investigation f
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early gains predicted
25th Feb 2011 07:58
Footsie is tipped to moved ahead in early dealings as Saudi Arabia moved to calm the panic stricken oil markets. Initial estimates are for the index to open up 26 points from its previous close of 5,920. Saudi Arabia is prepared to increase supplies and the kingdom has entered "active talks" with E
Read moreLloyds retail profit soars
25th Feb 2011 07:08
State-controlled Lloyds Banking swung back into profit last year as impairment charges almost halved and retail net margins improved. Pre-tax profits were £281m, down from £1bn, but on a continuing basis profits were £2.2bn against a loss of £6.4bn. Market forecasts had been for a profit between £
Read moreFriday preview: Lloyds Banking, IAG
24th Feb 2011 16:49
After the brouhaha that surrounded Royal Bank of Scotland's disappointing and eye-numbingly detailed full year results it is the turn of another part-nationalised lender, Lloyds Banking , to update the market on Friday. Charles Stanley is predicting a return to profitability, and has a pre-tax pro
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura prefers Lloyds to RBS
24th Feb 2011 12:45
There was nothing in the full year results from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to persuade Nomura Securities to abandon its preference for fellow part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking. The Japanese broker reiterated its 'reduce' recommendation on Royal Bank of Scotland after the figures came in muc
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