Lloyds Banking Group fined for PPI delays
19th Feb 2013 10:54
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) 4.3m pounds for delaying payment protection insurance (PPI) compensation to up to 140,000 customers. Firms owned by LBG - Lloyds TSB Bank, Lloyds TSB Scotland and Bank of Scotland - were penalised by the financial regulator
Read moreLondon close: Barclays leads stocks higher as risk appetite increases
12th Feb 2013 17:00
Strong gains in the banking sector helped push the FTSE 100 one per cent higher on Tuesday afternoon, as markets welcomed news of a turnaround plan at UK lender Barclays. "European stock markets picked up some pace in Tuesday's session as traders upped their exposure to risk following recent weakne
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leaps after results
12th Feb 2013 15:16
UK banking group Barclays was performing well today after releasing the details of its strategic review, which includes 3,700 jobs cuts. Meanwhile, the company said that adjusted profits before tax grew 26% to £7.05bn in 2012, helped by a 46% improvement in Corporate and Investment Banking and 52%
Read moreLondon midday: Banks pull Footsie into positive territory
12th Feb 2013 11:47
Stocks had pulled into positive territory by Tuesday lunchtime helped by strength in the banking sector as full-year results and the outcome of a strategic review at Barclays were well-received by the markets. Providing some support this morning was the news that credit ratings agency Standard & Po
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat despite banking strength
12th Feb 2013 08:28
UK stocks opened broadly flat on Tuesday morning ahead of some UK inflation data, with markets pausing for breath after a strong rise in the year to date. The FTSE 100 had a subdued day yesterday on the back of a lack of economic news and low trading volumes, partly owing to the closure of Asian ma
Read moreLondon close: Corporate earnings, services data push markets higher
5th Feb 2013 16:27
The FTSE 100 staged a partial recovery today after Monday's sell-off, with decent corporate earnings and better-than-expected service-sector data doing their bit to repair damaged market sentiment. London's benchmark index slumped 100 points yesterday as political uncertainty in the Eurozone result
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Lloyds, RBS, Virgin Media...
5th Feb 2013 06:53
The boss of one of Britain's taxpayer-owned banks is being lined up for a bonus of up to 1.5 million pounds for last year, refusing to follow the example set by his counterparts at RBS and Barclays, who have both waived their rights to a payout. António Horta-Osório, chief executive of Lloyds Bankin
Read moreLondon close: Footsie drops 100 points on political uncertainty in Europe
4th Feb 2013 16:32
Increased political risk in the Eurozone presented a good opportunity for traders to take profits on Monday, as investors made the most of the recent surge on stock markets worldwide. The FTSE 100 dropped 100 points today, a fall of around 1.6%. This follows the impressive 6.4% gain seen last month
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Randgold Resources ahead on profits
4th Feb 2013 14:45
Randgold Resources was leading the FTSE 100 race Monday after the gold exploration and development company posted a 16 per cent rise in profits for the full year. Production levels for the year also climbed 14% to 794,844 ounces of gold, while quarter-on-quarter profit was up 18% and production up
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall on profit-taking after recent surge
4th Feb 2013 11:30
UK stocks were registering moderate losses on Monday morning as traders began to lock in profits following a strong start to the year. The FTSE 100 jumped a whopping 6.4% last month, its best January performance since 1989. "After impressive recent gains, European equities cooled in early trade th
Read moreLondon open: Banks weigh on the Footsie early on
4th Feb 2013 08:19
The FTSE 100 slipped into the red in early trading on Monday morning as investors took a breather after the impressive rally seen so far in 2013. Since the start of the year, the index has risen a whopping 7.62% and is now trading at levels not seen since mid-2008. "We may see a break in the recen
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Banks, Afren, 3i
3rd Feb 2013 13:25
Ahead of a major speech on the issue on Monday, George Osborne is still negotiating with Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, on the exact detail of a reserve power the Government could use if banks were found to be abusing new regulations. Figures close to the Chancellor said he would not back a "b
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
1st Feb 2013 07:55
Afren: HSBC shifts target price from 190p to 200p, while reiterating an overweight rating. Antofagasta: Exane BNP reduces target price from 1500p to 1350p maintaining an outperform rating. Antrim Energy: Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 70p to 65p and reiterates a buy recommendation.
Read moreLondon close: Markets at five-year high after US earnings
29th Jan 2013 16:49
After a subdued morning session, the FTSE 100 rallied in afternoon trade to finish at its highest level since early 2008, helped by upbeat earnings from corporate heavyweights in the US. The Dow Jones Industrial Average in New York was also trading at a five-year high today after pharmaceutical gro
Read moreSector movers: RBS and Lloyds hit by downgrade
29th Jan 2013 16:45
Banks were taking a hit on Tuesday after Espirito Santo downgraded Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, saying that the operating environment remains difficult in the face of a weak economic outlook. RBS and Lloyds are now two of the most expensive stocks under Espirito's coverage and the broker fore
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