FTSE 100 movers: Croda jumps on upgrade from Credit Suisse
23rd Sep 2013 14:22
Chemicals firm Croda was in the top spot after Credit Suisse upgraded its recommendation from 'neutral' to 'outperform' and hiked its target price from 2,600p to 3,000p. Telecoms giant Vodafone also gained after UBS raised its target price for the shares from 230p to 245p after including Kabel Deut
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks lower on German elections, US debt ceiling
23rd Sep 2013 11:18
Elections in Germany, an uncertain outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy and a debate over the US debt ceiling weighed on markets on Monday morning, as traders shrugged off upbeat data from China and the Eurozone. The HSBC/Markit flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturin
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip despite Merkel victory in German elections
23rd Sep 2013 08:04
Stocks slipped into the red on Monday morning as investors digested this weekend's elections in Germany along with the uncertain outlook for monetary policy in the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU party won 41.5% of the vote in the federal elections this weekend after winning 311 seats
Read moreLondon close: Stocks hit by Bullard comments as post-Fed rally fades
20th Sep 2013 16:39
The exuberant post-Fed mood quickly faded on Friday with comments from one US policymaker dampening stocks before the close of trade. Risk appetite was also scaled back as caution set in ahead of the German elections at the weekend with the outcome still highly uncertain. The FTSE 100 finished 28.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tate & Lyle hit by Credit Suisse rating cut
20th Sep 2013 15:02
Shares in food and sweeteners manufacturer Tate & Lyle were falling heavily on Friday after the stock's rating was cut by Credit Suisse from 'outperform' to 'neutral'. The bank said its greatest concern is a proposal in Mexico to tax soft drinks which would reduce demand the group's high-fructose
Read moreSector movers: Miners, banks fall as investors scale back risk
20th Sep 2013 13:57
The mining and banking sectors were the worst performing categories on Friday afternoon as traders scaled back risk appetite going into the weekend. With the excitement of the surprise Federal Reserve decision now over - cyclical stocks gained strongly on Thursday after the central bank held off fr
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pause ahead of German elections
20th Sep 2013 11:36
Stocks were trading broadly flat by Friday lunchtime as markets paused for breath in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's surprise decision not to taper quantitative easing, though upside was limited ahead of the German elections this weekend. After a weak start, the FTSE 100 was more or less unc
Read moreLondon close: Stocks sink into the red ahead of FOMC outcome
18th Sep 2013 16:23
After a range-bound morning session, markets sunk into the red on Wednesday afternoon as investors reduced their appetite for risk ahead of the Federal Reserve policy decision later this evening. The FTSE 100 closed 11.35 points lower at 6,558.82, the index's second day in negative territory after
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smiths leads risers on special dividend payment
18th Sep 2013 15:16
Engineering firm Smiths Group was the top riser after raising its full-year dividend by four per cent and returning 118m pounds to shareholders by way of a special dividend as annual results came in slightly ahead of analysts' estimates. ARM Holdings was looking up on the back of generally positive
Read moreSector movers: Banks rebound after sharp falls
18th Sep 2013 14:26
Stocks in the banking sector were among the highest risers on Wednesday as share prices rebounded following some heavy falls the day before. UK domestic bank Lloyds was towards the top of the pack on the FTSE 100 after bearing the brunt of the selling action on Tuesday. Shares in the part-nationa
Read moreLondon midday: Markets rangebound ahead of Fed decision
18th Sep 2013 11:32
Markets were rangebound on Wednesday morning as investors showed nervousness ahead of the all-important Federal Reserve policy decision later this evening. UK stocks were registering moderating gains by midday but just 19 points separated the FTSE 100's intraday low (6,568) and high (6,587) as trad
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat as investors turn cautious ahead of Fed
18th Sep 2013 08:16
Markets opened broadly flat on Wednesday morning as investors refrained from building positions ahead of the conclusion of this month's all-important Federal Reserve policy meeting. However, with an announcement from the US central bank not due out until after markets close this evening, there will
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, China house prices, RBS
18th Sep 2013 07:06
Retail investors are likely to be able to join in the next sale of the government's stake in Lloyds, the Chancellor said yesterday. Flush from the success of the government's inaugural sale of some of its shares for 3.2bn pounds, George Osborne said: "I will consider all options for later sales of o
Read moreLondon close: Investors take profits ahead of Fed decision
17th Sep 2013 17:01
Stocks extended losses by the end of trade on Tuesday as investors trimmed positions ahead of the much-anticipated Federal Reserve policy meeting tomorrow. Weighing on markets were heavy falls in the banking sector, with Lloyds sinking after the government placed a 6% stake at a 3.1% discount to ye
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Utilities rise on cautious investing
17th Sep 2013 14:50
Utilities stocks Severn Trent and United Utilities were on the rise as investors grew cautious as the US Federal Reserve begins its two-day meeting during which the central bank will debate whether the economy has improved enough to start scaling back its monetary stimulus. Randgold Resources was
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