London midday: IHG, Lloyds lead markets high post European elections
27th May 2014 11:36
- FTSE 100 catches up after long weekend - Euroscepticism tempered by elections results in Italy, Greece - IHG gains on bid interest - Lloyds to float TSB division - Pfizer walks away from AstraZeneca proposal techMARK 2,788.40 +1.10% FTSE 100 6,849.22 +0.49% FTSE 250 15,836.22 +0.83% UK stocks po
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks rise after European elections, IHG jumps
27th May 2014 08:29
- Eurosceptism tempered by strong election results in Italy, Greece - FTSE 100 tracks gains made in Europe on Monday - IHG rises strongly on takeover rumours - Lloyds to float TSB - Pfizer walks away from AstraZeneca techMARK 2,779.89 +0.79% FTSE 100 6,830.41 +0.22% FTSE 250 15,824.59 +0.75% UK st
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to play catch up after strong gains in Europe
27th May 2014 07:31
The UK stock market is expected to open strongly on Tuesday morning as traders return to their desks in a bullish mood following an impressive performance on European bourses the day before. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 24 points higher than Friday's close of 6,815.75. While
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: TSB, Ukraine, Mario Draghi
27th May 2014 07:27
TSB will today attempt to sweeten the pill of a three-year dividend blackout by offering free loyalty shares to retail investors. Lloyds Banking Group will promise one free TSB share for every 20 bought and held for a year by retail investors as it formally sets out the intention to float announceme
Read moreLloyds confirms TSB flotation with focus on growth not yield - UPDATE
27th May 2014 07:11
- Lloyds floating 25 per cent of TSB - Lloyds to protect from potential legacy issues - TSB says no dividend targeted until 2017 - Analysts predict discount to book Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it will float a quarter of shares in TSB on the London Stock Exchange in June and is required to li
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Intercontinental Hotels, George Osborne, AstraZeneca
25th May 2014 09:42
Intercontinental Hotels has turned down a 6bn pounds takeover approach from an unnamed investment fund, the Sunday Times reported. The approach is said to have been made in the last three weeks but the board thought it was too low to consider. City sources think the group could now be a target for a
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: UKip, IPOs, Royal Mail
23rd May 2014 06:59
Labour admitted Ukip had caused "mayhem" last night as early results in council elections pointed to a big swing towards Nigel Farage's party in its heartlands. The Eurosceptics made huge gains across the country, halting Labour's hoped for gains and taking seats off the Conservatives. Ed Miliband's
Read moreLloyds 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
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