London open: Modest fall for Footsie
21st May 2010 08:48
London's top stocks have opened lower but the decline is modest compared to the hammering US blue chips took overnight. British Airways record pre-tax loss of £531m is providing some distraction. The carrier was hit by strike action, bad winter weather disruption and the impact from the global rece
Read moreThursday's newspaper round-up: Government, BP, Lloyds
20th May 2010 06:10
Final coalition agreement may include phasing a cut in the headline rate and alternatives to a sharp cut in the rate of capital allowances originally proposed by the Tories, reports the FT. Chancellor wants most competitive corporate tax regime in G20 by cutting rates and reforming rules driving fi
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
14th May 2010 08:44
London's top stocks have turned down after the late gains yesterday with banks again under pressure on concerns over the plans of the new government to curb their activities. Reports that the EU is to push through controversial new hedge fund regulations next week have also cast a cloud over the fi
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips make healthy gains
13th May 2010 16:33
London's top stocks rallied near the close to finish well up on the day as traders speculated on possible measures to cut the UK's debt burden. A VAT rise to 20% is a likely measure according to a group of economists questioned by the BBC. Justin King, chief executive of supermarket Sainsbury's,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still in the blue
13th May 2010 15:06
London's top stocks are easing down towards the close after a flat start on Wall Street and some calming down of the excitement over the plans of the new Conservative-Liberal government. The focus now is on just how they new government intends to get the UK's debt levels down, with a VAT rise to 20
Read moreLondon midday: BT leads market higher
13th May 2010 12:07
London's top stocks are making good gains helped by BT's full-year numbers and a decent showing from the miners. BT is the strongest riser on news that telecoms giant returned to the black in the last quarter and the full year and reported a 6% rise in the dividend. Pre-tax profit hit £1.01bn in th
Read moreLondon close: Deficit narrows
11th May 2010 16:34
Losses halved during the afternoon session as it looked increasingly likely the Liberal Democrats will jump into bed with the Conservative party and form a coalition government. Buyers nibbled at weak miners and banks, down sharply earlier on doubts about the €750bn Eurozone bailout plan. Kazakhmy
Read moreLondon afternoon: Political indecision weighs
11th May 2010 15:33
With still no decision on who's running the country and Wall Street deep in the red, London's FTSE 100 is nursing triple digit losses. Concerns about the €750bn bailout agreed by European governments to prevent economic collapse in the Eurozone also continue to weigh. Banks remain among the worst
Read moreSector movers: Banks and miners on the back foot
11th May 2010 13:16
Banks are among the worst performers on a tough day for the markets, most notably part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland. The taxpayer-owned bank has agreed to pay the US government $500m to settle charges it conspired to violate the US Bank Secrecy Act. The Department of Justice said ABN Amro,
Read moreLondon midday: Shares drift lower on bail-out doubts
11th May 2010 12:16
The leading share index is posting triple-digit losses as nerves set in over the prospects for the €750bn bailout agreed by European governments to prevent economic collapse in countries that use the euro. Banks are among the worst performers, most notably part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland.
Read moreLondon close: Shares roar ahead after euro deal
10th May 2010 16:37
Markets were focused on the European debt crisis situation rather than the continuing political uncertainty here and, with European ministers having agreed a €720bn deal to prop up the euro, shares soared more than 200 points. Banks Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) all racked up do
Read moreSector movers: Banks and miners lead rally
10th May 2010 16:01
Banks are leading the advance on the back of the €720bn deal to prop up the euro agreed by ministers at the weekend. Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) all rack up double-digit percentage gains with Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered close behind. Market rumours suggest that RBS is
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks propel index higher
10th May 2010 14:48
Footsie is rising on the back of a strong recovery in banks and financials following the €720bn deal to prop up the euro agreed by EU ministers at the weekend. Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds are the top three performers. Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered is also rising. Vedanta R
Read moreLondon afternoon: BP misses out
10th May 2010 14:18
It's almost a clean sweep among FTSE 100 constituents for stocks on the rise, with the notable exception of BP, which continues to be dragged down by mounting expenses for its oil spill clean-up. Banks are leading the advance on the back of the €720bn deal to prop up the euro agreed by ministers at
Read moreLondon midday: Surge continues
10th May 2010 12:43
Footsie has continued its upward surge on the back of a €720bn deal to prop up the euro agreed by ministers at the weekend. The three-year plan includes €60bn (£52bn) from all EU members, €440bn (£381bn) from the 16-nation eurozone and €220bn from the IMF. Footsie has bounded forward by over 5%.
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