London open: Lloyds leads FTSE 100 higher early on
1st Aug 2013 08:56
Upbeat Chinese data and some impressive first-half results from Lloyds helped boost markets on Thursday morning, though the focus is likely to turn to central-bank decisions in the UK and Europe later on. "With the Bank of England and European Central Bank likely to announce uneventful policy decis
Read moreLondon pre-open: Chinese data to provide a lift early on
1st Aug 2013 07:44
Markets are expected to open higher on Thursday morning ahead of central-bank policy decisions from the UK and Europe this afternoon, with sentiment helped early on by some upbeat data from China. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 20 points from yesterday's close of 6,621. Growth in
Read moreLloyds sees H1 profits surge, guidance revised up
1st Aug 2013 07:16
Lloyds hailed a huge increase in underlying profits in the first half, helped by rising income and margins as well as reductions in costs and impairments. The bank reported an underlying profit of £2.90bn, up from just £1.04bn in the first six months of 2012. On a statutory basis, the bottom line s
Read moreLondon midday: Markets celebrate fall in Eurozone unemployment
31st Jul 2013 12:03
A fall in unemployment in Europe and some well-received corporate earnings pushed the FTSE 100 into positive territory on Wednesday morning, as traders showed optimism ahead of a policy announcement by the Federal Reserve later this evening. Some 24,000 fewer people were without a job in the Eurozo
Read moreLondon open: Markets flat as investors await FOMC, economic data
31st Jul 2013 09:06
Markets in the UK opened broadly flat on Wednesday morning as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of a policy announcement from the Federal Reserve. All eyes will be on the Federal Open Market Committee as its two-day meeting comes to a close this evening. While few actually think that
Read moreLondon close: Gains limited ahead of central bank decisions
30th Jul 2013 16:41
Caution ahead of a number of central-bank policy decisions kept gains on equity markets to a minimum on Tuesday, with the FTSE 100 finishing slightly higher as traders digested a barrage of corporate earnings. The outcome of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting will be in focus on Wednesday, t
Read moreLondon midday: Markets rise on earnings, Gfk data
30th Jul 2013 11:39
Markets edged higher on Tuesday morning as traders reacted to a barrage of corporate earnings and data which showed that German consumers were at their most optimistic in six years. The GfK's forward-looking consumer confidence survey for Germany rose from 6.8 to 7.0 in August, its highest levels s
Read moreLondon open: Markets higher as traders digest mixed earnings
30th Jul 2013 08:50
Strong gains for GKN, ITV, Weir and Next helped push London's FTSE 100 into positive territory on Tuesday morning, offsetting weakness from the likes of Barclays and BP. Meanwhile, markets across Europe were also doing well early on as investors reacted to upbeat earnings reports from French heavyw
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall ahead of busy week for earnings
22nd Jul 2013 08:23
The FTSE 100 opened slightly lower on Monday morning as investors turned cautious ahead of a busy week for corporate earnings across the globe. Markets are in for a "bumpy ride" this week with nearly a third of S&P 500 companies set to report their quarterly earnings, according to Financial Sales T
Read moreBoE says three banks hold back UK lending
18th Jul 2013 10:36
The three 'big banks' are holding back lending to British households and businesses, the Bank of England said. In its quarterly Trends in Lending report the BoE said most banks in its Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) supplied more credit in the first quarter of the year. But three banks made big c
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 near seven-week high
15th Jul 2013 16:28
Decent gains in the financial sector boosted the FTSE 100 on Monday as markets welcomed in-line growth figures from China and record highs on Wall Street. The FTSE 100 finished 41 points higher at 6,586 today; the last time it closed higher was on May 30th when it reached 6,657. While the index cl
Read moreLondon midday: Banks, miners provide a lift after China data
15th Jul 2013 11:42
Cyclical stocks welcomed in-line gross domestic product (GDP) figures from China on Monday morning with the FTSE 100 nearly hitting seven-week highs early on. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level; the last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. Gains
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 near seven-week high after China data
15th Jul 2013 08:24
Worries about a sharp slowdown in China temporarily eased on Monday morning, pushing the FTSE 100 to levels not seen in nearly seven weeks. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level early on. The last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. "European marke
Read moreLondon close: Stocks weighed down by periphery woes
12th Jul 2013 18:01
A positive start to trading on Wall Street helped the Footsie to evade the losses seen in the rest of the Continent as a result of a sharp rise in Portuguese bond yields. Strong gains in the financial sectors, as investors continued to focus on dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Berna
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aberdeen, Resolution lead financials higher
12th Jul 2013 14:08
Financial stocks were performing well on Friday with asset manager Aberdeen and insurance group Resolution leading the way after positive comments from analysts. UBS reiterated its 'buy' rating for Aberdeen and added the stock to its 'most preferred' list, saying that the recent share price falls h
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