Tuesday paper round-up: BHP Billiton, ITV, Lloyds Banking

30th Mar 2010 06:34

Global miners have passed a milestone in their efforts to change the way iron ore benchmark prices are set by convincing major steelmakers to adopt prices more closely linked to the spot market. BHP Billiton said on Tuesday that a "significant number" of Asian steelmakers had agreed to move from th

Read more

FTSE 100 movers: Miners move ahead

29th Mar 2010 15:52

Miners are moving higher on the back of rising metal prices but they can't stop the Footsie falling slightly on the day. Even Rio Tinto shares are rising following the miner's attempts to distance itself from executive Stern Hu, who was sentenced to 12 years in jail in China on charges of bribery

Read more

London afternoon: Into the red

29th Mar 2010 14:23

All of Footsie's early gains have now been pulled back despite futures pointing to a decent start on Wall Street. Banks are dragging the index lower with losses now for both state-controlled banks, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland. Vodafone is higher on reports over the weekend it is in talks a

Read more

MPs call for 'radical reform' of banking system

29th Mar 2010 09:46

MPs are calling for "radical reform" of the UK banking system to prevent taxpayers from picking up the bill next time a lender fails. The Treasury Select Committee, which said that the public would not stand for another bail-out of the banks, urged ministers not to rule out the break-up of institut

Read more

Sunday paper round-up: RBS/Lloyds, Prudential, Desire Petroleum

28th Mar 2010 08:25

Advisers to the government are working on a secret plan that could allow the state to start cutting its shareholdings in British banks just weeks after the general election. The plot would see the Treasury create "convertible gilts" ? government bonds that could be exchanged for shares in the banks

Read more

London close: Market unmoved by Budget

24th Mar 2010 16:49

The blue-chip index finished marginally higher after a Budget that was light on bells and whistles While there was little in the Budget to excite anyone other than first-time buyers, cider drinkers and British occupants of Dominica, Grenada and Belize, the corporate news scene was busy, with half

Read more

London open: Early gains for blue chips

24th Mar 2010 08:39

Footsie has pushed on strongly after another day of big gains in the US yesterday. The Budget will dominate the headlines from lunchtime and banks are making progress in expectation that something will be said the government's stakes in the state-controlled banks, RBS and Lloyds. Foreign exchange

Read more

Former UKFI boss buys Lloyds shares

23rd Mar 2010 16:38

Glen Moreno has bought his first shares in Lloyds Banking Group since he was appointed senior independent non-executive director of the company on 1 March. He has bought 50,000 ADRs, which is the equivalent of 200,000 shares, at $3.69 each. That is equivalent to just over 61p a share, making the c

Read more

Tuesday paper round-up: British Airways, VT Group, Royal Bank of Scotland

23rd Mar 2010 06:34

Passengers at two of Europe's largest airlines face a fresh wave of disruption lasting well into next month. Cabin crew at British Airways are ready to go on strike for four days from Saturday, having finished a three-day strike on Monday, while pilots at Lufthansa announced they would resume indus

Read more

London close: Footsie comes off highs

19th Mar 2010 16:37

Footsie reached levels not seen since 2008 in afternoon dealings, but the gains dwindled after a poor start in the US and the leading share index finished just a few points in the blue. Banks led the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combin

Read more

FTSE 100 movers: Banks drive Footsie to 21-month high

19th Mar 2010 15:33

Footsie hit a 21-month high as banks charged forward after Lloyds said it would be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010. Chief executive Eric Daniels said trading in the first 10 weeks of 2010 had been "strong", prompting UBS to lift is rating on Lloyds shares to 'buy' from 'neutral' w

Read more

London afternoon: Footsie at 21 month high

19th Mar 2010 14:08

Footsie marked time over the lunch time session after hitting levels in the morning session not seen since June 2008. Banks continue to lead the way after an upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Danie

Read more

Broker tips: Lloyds, Aegis, Standard Life Property Income

19th Mar 2010 13:20

There was a rush to buy Lloyds Banking Group shares on Friday morning after the bank's chief executive officer, Eric Daniels, held out hope of a return to profitability in 2010, but Charles Stanley is refusing to get caught up in the euphoria. The broker is sticking with its 'hold' recommendation,

Read more

Broker snap: Hold on to Lloyds, Charles Stanley advises

19th Mar 2010 13:08

There was a rush to buy Lloyds Banking Group shares on Friday after the bank's chief executive officer, Eric Daniels, held out hope of a return to profitability in 2010, but Charles Stanley is refusing to get caught up in the euphoria. The broker is sticking with its 'hold' recommendation, having i

Read more

London midday: Defensives left behind

19th Mar 2010 12:10

Risers outnumber fallers by around four to one among FTSE 100 constituents as the market continues to enjoy a sentiment boost from an impromptu and upbeat trading update from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds will be profitable on a combined businesses basis in 2010, chief executive Eric Daniels claimed

Read more