London pre-open: Footsie to slip back

18th Sep 2009 07:46

Footsie is expected to fall in early dealings after posting more gains yesterday. Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it is in talks with the government about changes to the terms of its possible participation in the government asset protection scheme (GAPS). Lloyds is also mu

Read more

Lloyds confirms APS renegotiation talks

18th Sep 2009 07:04

Part-nationalised bank Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it is in talks with the government about changes to the terms of its possible participation in the government asset protection scheme (GAPS). ‘In light of improving economic conditions and the results of Lloyds' detailed reviews of its loan

Read more

Friday newspaper round-up: Lloyds Banking, BSkyB, African Minerals

18th Sep 2009 06:17

Lloyds Banking Group has been forced to abandon its plan to withdraw from the Government's toxic debt insurance scheme after failing to raise enough capital to meet the Financial Services Authority's strict requirements. The decision dashes the hopes of Eric Daniels, chief executive, who wanted a w

Read more

London close: Footsie nears 52-week high

16th Sep 2009 17:03

London raced ahead today, with the FTSE 100 crashing through the 5100 barrier near to a 12-month high, though it stopped short of racking up a triple-digit rise. Mining stocks were responsible for a large proportion of the index's rise as metals prices headed north following comments from Federal

Read more

London afternoon: Footsie consolidates gains

16th Sep 2009 14:30

The number of FTSE 100 constituents in the red today is in single figures as investors chase up share prices in the wake of relatively upbeat comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last night. Bernanke said the US recession 'is very likely over at this point,' prompting an advance by gl

Read more

Broker tips: Next, Cape, UK banks

16th Sep 2009 12:46

KBC Peel Hunt is contemplating upgrading its target price, earnings forecasts and rating for Next after the fashion retailer's impressive interim results on Wednesday morning. The broker expects consensus forecasts for full year pre-tax profit are likely to rise as a result of the half-year update,

Read more

London midday: Footsie breaks through 5100

16th Sep 2009 11:58

Leading shares rose steadily throughout the morning session pushing the FTSE 100 index through the 5100 barrier. Mining stocks are responsible for much of the rise as metals prices head north after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the US recession 'is very likely over at this point' in a s

Read more

Broker snap: Book profits on banks, Nomura says

16th Sep 2009 11:55

Broker Nomura Securities has warned that shareholders in UK banks should be wary of the potential for a reversal in the sector and advises banking profits. 'The domestic UK banks have rebounded to valuations of 1.4x book value, with the Far Eastern banks on 2.2x. Consequently, we advocate booking s

Read more

London open: Bright start for Footsie

16th Sep 2009 08:42

London's blue chips have made a strong start following on from Wall St's rise after US Fed chief Ben Bernanke called the US recession over. Miners are pushing on in sympathy with Bernanke's comments led by the majors Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Anglo American. Tullow Oil is the best performer after the

Read more

Brussels may make Lloyds sell Halifax

16th Sep 2009 08:25

Lloyds Banking Group could be forced to sell off its Halifax business if the European Commission decides to punish it for receiving billions of pounds of state aid, according to reports. Competition Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, has yet to make a final decision, but banking sources say it is clear th

Read more

Wednesday newspaper round-up: Lloyds Banking, Tullow Oil, Barclays

16th Sep 2009 06:15

The European Commission has warned Lloyds Banking Group that it may have to split off Halifax as punishment for the billions of pounds of state aid that it has received. Neelie Kroes, the Competition Commissioner, has yet to make a final decision, but banking sources say it is clear that she is pla

Read more

Wednesday tips round-up: Lloyds Banking, Randgold, Peter Hambro

9th Sep 2009 06:35

Lloyds Banking shares' recent froth has been driven by the company's bold prediction that bad debts have peaked and hopes that it may be able to renegotiate terms of entry into the government's asset guarantee scheme. It may be that Lloyds Banking is the recovery play of the new century. There are

Read more

Thursday's newspaper round-up: Alistair Darling, Lloyds, RSA

3rd Sep 2009 06:53

International complacency risks plunging the world into a double-dip recession, the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, warned yesterday, according to the Independent. Alistair Darling is scrambling to plug a gaping hole in the $1.1 trillion global rescue package agreed by G20 leaders in London ? hailed

Read more

London open: Dull start after Dow sell off

2nd Sep 2009 08:46

The gloomy start to September has continued with talk of another big bank fund raising encouraging sellers. Lloyds is the worst performer after the Guardian reported it has won backing from its investors to raise £10bn to allow it make a partial withdrawal from the government's asset protection sch

Read more

London close: Footsie plunges after Wall Street reversal

1st Sep 2009 16:43

A sharp reversal in US stocks' fortunes ensured Footsie finished deep in the red after abruptly giving up an attempt to climb into positive territory. Miners were weak on lower metals prices, with Kazakh pair ENRC and Kazakhmys among the worst hit. Lower metals prices also hurt the likes of Antof

Read more