British banks saw funding conditions ease in fourth quarter
7th Jan 2014 14:16
UK banks and building societies reported that their total funding volumes (requirements) fell significantly in the three months to early December, according to the Bank of England´s (BoE) latest Bank Liabilities Survey. That is important because changes in the price, quantity and composition of ban
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks gain, ECB in focus as inflation eases
7th Jan 2014 11:31
- Eurozone inflation eases to 0.8 per cent - ECB in focus ahead of meeting on Thursday - Banks lift Footsie into positive territory techMARK 2,796.28 +0.14% FTSE 100 6,761.20 +0.45% FTSE 250 16,076.04 +0.17% After a slow start, markets pushed into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime as an unex
Read moreIreland sees strong demand for first debt auction since bailout exit
7th Jan 2014 11:26
Ireland appeared to be experiencing enormous demand for its first debt auction since exiting its bailout in December, according to various media reports on Tuesday. Financial Times reported that the order book had already surpassed €13bn even though the Irish Treasury had originally planned to issu
Read moreUK business confidence at strongest level in 20 years
6th Jan 2014 10:16
UK business confidence has reached its strongest level in 20 years, according to a survey from Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds said confidence has been boosted by rising expectations for orders, sales and profits in the next six months. Confidence has increased across all sectors and regions in the U
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE falls into the red as retailers drag
30th Dec 2013 11:57
- FTSE sinks 22 points - Retailers drop on discounting concerns - CBI urges firms to do more to encourage employee development techMARK 2,782.57 -0.16% FTSE 100 6,731.69 -0.28% FTSE 250 15,905.79 +0.17% The FTSE has dropped into negative territory this lunchtime, weighed down by retailers on what
Read moreLondon open: FTSE inches higher as miners extend gains
30th Dec 2013 08:43
- FTSE inches higher in light trading - Hometrack data shows 4.4 per cent climb in 2013 house prices - Government could sell stake in Lloyds, reports claim techMARK 2,788.84 +0.07% FTSE 100 6,761.47 +0.16% FTSE 250 15,897.51 +0.12% The FTSE 100 opened six points higher this morning, with gains dr
Read moreUK government to sell Lloyds in 2014
30th Dec 2013 07:44
The UK government could sell its 33 per cent stake in Lloyds Banking Group in 2014, sources told The Telegraph. The government's holding, currently worth £18.4bn, is understood to be sold off within the next 12 months. It will be sold through a combination of institutional sales and a nationwide of
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Dec 2013 09:12
African Barrick Gold: Canaccord Genuity takes target price from 125p to 195p upgrading from hold to buy. Ashmore Group: UBS raises target price from 390p to 430p upgrading from neutral to buy. BAE Systems: JP Morgan cuts target price from 380p to 355p and maintains its underweight rating. UBS lowe
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, BP, Debenhams...
18th Dec 2013 08:19
George Osborne will today receive a veiled rebuke from the National Audit Office for claiming that he sold a substantial stake in Lloyds Banking Group at a profit for taxpayers when the transaction crystallised a loss of at least 230m pounds. The September sale of a 3.2bn-pound stake was managed eff
Read moreLondon close: Stocks pull back as investors await Fed decision
17th Dec 2013 16:36
- US inflation data in focus ahead of Fed meeting - UK inflation falls, Eurozone inflation picks up - Supermarket fall on competition from discounters - Car insurance is too high, claims Competition Commission techMARK 2,684.75 -0.05% FTSE 100 6,486.19 -0.55% FTSE 250 15,348.56 -0.23% UK markets p
Read moreLondon open: Markets flat at two-month low, RSA plummets
13th Dec 2013 08:26
- FTSE 100 flat after three straight losses - House passes budget deal at wide margin - Risk appetite still subdued ahead of Fed meeting - RSA plummets after profit warning, CEO exit techMARK 2,661.33 +0.33% FTSE 100 6,446.47 +0.02% FTSE 250 15,234.70 +0.15% UK markets opened more or less flat on
Read moreLondon close: Stocks erase gains as investors weigh US budget, Fed policy
11th Dec 2013 17:01
- Taper speculation picks up after budget deal - Imagination Technologies drops sharply on H2 guidance - RBS, Lloyds lead banks lower - Defence stocks rise on US budget techMARK 2,674.83 +0.08% FTSE 100 6,507.72 -0.24% FTSE 250 15,396.12 -0.10% After a choppy session, UK markets sank into the red
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: easyJet, BAE Systems, BT Group
11th Dec 2013 15:22
easyJet soared to the top of the FTSE 100 on Wednesday after the airline was upgraded by Goldman Sachs to 'conviction buy'. The bank cited the group's ability to grab market share in the short-haul market in Europe as legacy carriers restructure. Defence and security company BAE Systems gained afte
Read moreLondon midday: Markets edge higher after US budget deal, Imagination plummets
11th Dec 2013 11:16
- US agrees on budget deal ahead of Friday deadline - RBS, Lloyds, StanChart lead banks lower - Imagination plummets on cautious guidance techMARK 2,683.01 +0.39% FTSE 100 6,537.76 +0.22% FTSE 250 15,471.94 +0.40% UK markets edged higher on Wednesday morning, with concerns over politician brinkman
Read moreLloyds hit with record fine over sales incentive scheme
11th Dec 2013 10:34
Lloyds Banking Group has been fined 28m pounds by UK regulators for "serious failings" relating to a staff bonus scheme. The scheme rewarded sales staff with bonuses even when products they sold customers were considered unsuitable. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which was launched in Ap
Read more