Lloyds to launch TSB IPO next week
22nd May 2014 15:12
Lloyds Banking Group is expected to launch the initial public offer of its TSB subsidiary next week, according to sources quoted by Reuters. The bank is rumoured to be prepared to accept a loss when it floats TSB on the London Stock Market in the next few weeks due to a reduction in investor inter
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Google, Ukraine, Insurers
22nd May 2014 07:29
Google is amassing an overseas war chest to help it to make foreign purchases worth up to 30bn dollars. Or, at least, that is what it has told regulators. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the internet giant defended its decision to hoard so much cash overseas, out of the reach
Read moreLloyds puts cap on mortgage applications
21st May 2014 10:30
Lloyds Banking Group has announced it will cap mortgage applications of more than 500,000 pounds at no more than four times a borrower's salary. With the average price of homes in London at £459,000, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the lender's move is likely to fuel concerns
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Bank of England, Lloyds, AstraZeneca
21st May 2014 06:38
Raising interest rates might be the only effective tool the Bank of England has to cool the housing market, its deputy governor has conceded. Charlie Bean, who retires at the end of June, said that while it was sensible for the Bank to use macro-prudential tools to control rapid price rises and mana
Read moreLondon midday: China slowdown fears hit stocks, AstraZeneca sinks
19th May 2014 11:26
- AstraZeneca drops after rejecting 'final proposal' from Pfizer - Chinese housing concerns weigh on sentiment - Carney comments, Ukraine elections in focus techMARK 2,710.83 -1.26% FTSE 100 6,827.22 -0.42% FTSE 250 15,427.14 +0.19% UK stocks were firmly in the red on Monday as investors kicked of
Read moreLondon open: AstraZeneca leads markets lower as shares sink
19th May 2014 08:33
- AstraZeneca drops sharply after rejecting Pfizer offer - Banking, mining stocks fall - China property concerns weigh on sentiment techMARK 2,714.40 -1.13% FTSE 100 6,823.23 -0.48% FTSE 250 15,475.65 +0.50% UK stocks fell on Monday morning with AstraZeneca leading the decline after rejecting a fi
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Carney and housing, M&S
18th May 2014 10:57
Pfizer is weighing up a last-minute improvement to its indicative offer for AstraZeneca, the Sunday Times said. Pfizer is expected to increase the cash portion of its offer and could also increase the price per share before the May 26th deadline to secure a deal. It is also in talks with the Governm
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, BSkyB, interest rates
11th May 2014 11:23
Pfizer has been advised by a top US law firm that its assurances over the proposed £63bn takeover of AstraZeneca are legally binding, the Sunday Times reported. Chief Executive Ian Read hopes the opinion from Skadden Arps will help cool the political argument over his intended deal. He will be quest
Read moreSector movers: Barclays and StanChart give banks a boost
8th May 2014 15:36
Well-received first-quarter updates from the likes of Barclays and Standard Chartered gave UK banking stocks a boost on Thursday. Barclays led London's blue chips higher in afternoon trade, up 8.6%, after it pleased the City with plans to slash 14,000 jobs in 2014 across the group as it aimed to be
Read moreLondon midday: Upbeat earnings provide a lift as BoE holds rates
8th May 2014 11:35
- Barclays, Standard Chartered, BT and Morrison rise after results - BoE holds policy, ECB in focus - Yellen signals need for continued support - Ukraine tensions ease slightly after Putin comments techMARK 2,796.26 +0.19% FTSE 100 6,836.23 +0.59% FTSE 250 15,916.36 +0.22% Decent gains from Barcla
Read moreLondon open: Barclays leads FTSE 100 higher ahead of central bank decisions
8th May 2014 08:32
- Barclays gains on job-cut announcement - Busy day for corporate earnings/updates - Yellen, Putin comments in focus - Focus turns to BoE and ECB ahead of policy decisions techMARK 2,799.70 +0.31% FTSE 100 6,827.33 +0.45% FTSE 250 15,963.95 +0.52% UK stocks rose on Thursday morning amid a flurry o
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
7th May 2014 08:35
Balfour Beatty: Jefferies reduces target price from 403p to 233p downgrading to hold. Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 280p to 250p and leaves its hold recommendation unchanged. Numis reduces target price to 260p and retains an add rating. Barclays: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 320p t
Read moreSector movers: Barclays and Astra drag banks and pharma stocks lower
6th May 2014 15:14
Banking and pharmaceuticals, two sectors which have performed well over recent weeks, were trading firmly lower on Tuesday with heavyweights Barclays and AstraZeneca providing a drag. Shares in Barclays were as much as 5% lower this afternoon after a much worse-than-expected drop in investment bank
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks pull back from two-month high
6th May 2014 11:54
- Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca, Balfour Beatty fall - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - FTSE 100 pulls back from two-month high - UK services PMI beats forecasts techMARK 2,798.81 +0.15% FTSE 100 6,811.35 -0.16% FTSE 250 15,928.23 -0.02% Falls from Barclays, Aberdeen, AstraZeneca and Balfour
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
6th May 2014 08:44
Antofagasta: RBC Capital upgrades to buy with a target price of 900p. Barclays: Numis downgrades from add to hold with a target price of 280p. BG Group: Goldman Sachs ups target price from 1500p to 1530p and retains a strong buy recommendation. Britvic: Numis raises target price to 684p and keeps
Read more