London midday: Stocks fall as Ukraine crisis offsets UK retail sales
25th Apr 2014 11:44
- Ukraine tensions prompt profit taking - S&P downgrades Russia - UK retail sales beat forecasts - Pearson and William Hill gain after updates, Tullow falls techMARK 2,754.20 -0.20% FTSE 100 6,679.08 -0.36% FTSE 250 15,950.90 -0.26% UK stocks were trading with small losses on Friday, pulling back
Read moreRBS forced to back down from double fixed-pay plan
25th Apr 2014 08:54
Majority state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland has axed a plan to hand out bonuses worth double fixed-pay after the British government refused to back it. RBS said on Friday that it would not ask investors to back a variable remuneration rate of up to 200% of salaries, or two-for-one ratio, at its ann
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Ukraine, AstraZeneca, Scotland
24th Apr 2014 07:05
The rhetoric between Kiev and Moscow has taken a distinct turn for the worse. On Wednesday, Russia warned that any attack on its citizens in Ukraine would be considered as an attack on itself. That came as an 'anti-terrorist' operation against pro-Russian militants in the eastern part of the country
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
23rd Apr 2014 09:04
AB Foods: Numis upgrades from sell to reduce with a target price of 2240p. AstraZeneca: Citi raises target price from 3500p to 4900p and upgrades to buy. Fenner: Investec cuts target price from 375p to 360p and reiterates its sell recommendation. Genus: N+1 Singer upgrades to hold with a target p
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to open marginally lower
23rd Apr 2014 07:40
Following yesterday's surge on the back of bid speculation and M&A activity within the pharma sector, today's session looks set for a fairly flat start, with the top tier expected to inch marginally lower early on. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around seven points below yesterday's c
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads banks higher on shake-up speculation
17th Apr 2014 14:07
The share price of Barclays rose strongly on Thursday amid speculation the bank could announce thousands of further job cuts in its investment banking division as part of a corporate shake-up. Barclays released a statement today which announced that it would update shareholders next month on its s
Read moreLloyds agrees retail ECN swap
17th Apr 2014 07:37
Lloyds Banking Group has received demand from retail investors to swap 58.5m pounds worth of its Enhanced Capital Notes (ECNs) for new additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital bonds. The FTSE 100 group said it had also now issued around £5.35bn of new AT1 bonds in exchange for £5bn of ECNs as part of separa
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Ukraine, Lloyds, Yahoo
16th Apr 2014 07:20
In the early hours of the morning Ukraine began its "anti-terrorist" operation in the northern part of the Donetsk region. The country's President described it as "phased, responsible and balanced". Ukrainian military units took up positions around the region, setting up checkpoints along key roads.
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Lloyds Banking, Rio Tinto, Tesco
13th Apr 2014 16:14
Lloyds Banking Group is planning to begin the sale of its TSB division in mid-May despite recent market ructions, the Sunday Telegraph said. The initial public offering would see TSB listed on the stock exchange by the end of May. Some investors are questioning the value of 1.5bn to 2bn pounds place
Read moreFCA ponders changes to bank overdrafts
10th Apr 2014 14:20
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed working with the competition regulator to ensure banks' overdraft mechanisms and fees are fairer. As overdraft fees generate a third of the revenue from personal account banking in Britain, the prospect of the financial watchdog imposing changes c
Read moreBarclays tops UK watchdog's complaints list
9th Apr 2014 12:32
Barclays Bank faced more controversy on Wednesday as it topped a watchdog's list of the UK's most-complained about banks, but gripes about financial service companies fell overall. Retail customers launched nearly 310,000 complaints against Barclays between July and December last year, the Financia
Read moreMetro Bank founder to launch online bank Atom
9th Apr 2014 12:22
Anthony Thomson, the founder and former Chairman of Metro Bank has unveiled plans to launch Atom, the first 'truly digital' retail and business bank. The new online bank, which is due to open in 2015, will offer both consumer and business banking. Thompson, who will take on the role of Chairman,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sports Direct shares dive
8th Apr 2014 14:41
Sporting goods retailer Sports Direct sunk sharply after it was reported that Founder Mike Ashley is selling 200m pounds-worth of shares, taking his stake from 62 per cent to 58 per cent. Goldman Sachs said it will place up to 24m shares acquired from MASH Holdings, Ashley's investment vehicle, wi
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks at two-week low as Sports Direct and grocers fall
8th Apr 2014 11:52
- FTSE 100 at lowest since March 24th - Ukraine tensions flare up - US stocks fall ahead of Q1 earnings season - Sports Direct sinks on Ashley share sale, grocers fall techMARK 2,697.79 -1.18% FTSE 100 6,559.14 -0.96% FTSE 250 16,015.95 -1.52% UK stocks fell one per cent by Tuesday lunchtime, tra
Read moreUK banks pay out 600m pounds for mis-selling, FCA says
8th Apr 2014 10:43
Britain's biggest banks have so far paid around 600m pounds for mis-selling interest rate hedging products, according to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The banks have set aside £4bn to compensate small firms. Banks including Barclays, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Gr
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