London midday: Stocks fall ahead of EU summit
30th Jan 2012 11:55
London's blue chip index had fallen close to its lowest levels of the day by lunchtime ahead of the EU summit in Brussels. Meanwhile, markets were still digesting the downgrade of five Eurozone nations on Friday and the talks between the Greek government and private creditors that are still ongoing.
Read moreLondon open: Banks weigh on Footsie lower early on
30th Jan 2012 08:18
The FTSE 100 slipped towards the 5,700 level in early trade, with the banks providing a drag as investors digested the downgrade of five Eurozone nations and the ongoing talks in Greece. Fitch announced late on Friday to downgrade the ratings of five Eurozone nations - Italy, Spain, Belgium, Cyprus
Read moreLancashire makes more provisions for disasters
30th Jan 2012 07:14
Insurance underwriter Lancashire Holdings said that it has increased its estimated losses resulting from the floods in Thailand and the Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Lancashire's estimated loss in the fourth quarter of 2011 to the floods in Thailand, after reinsurance and reinstatement premiums, has
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
17th Jan 2012 09:15
IMI: Exane BNP upgrades to outperform from neutral. Smiths Group: Exane BNP upgrades to outperform from neutral. RBS: Shore Capital upgrades to hold from sell. Oriel reiterates buy. RSA Insurance: UBS labels short-term buy. Resolution: UBS upgrades to buy from neutral. Burberry: Nomura main
Read moreITE chief sells shares to cover tax
5th Dec 2011 16:12
Russel Taylor, chief executive of exhibitions and conferences firm ITE, has sold £232,228-worth of shares in the firm just days after the firm saw full revenues and profits jump as its sector defied the general economic gloom. Taylor, who joined the firm in 2003 and took up his current role in 2008
Read moreLancashire's president sells £1.39m worth of shares
9th Nov 2011 16:32
The president of Lancashire Holdings, the FTSE 250 insurance broker, has sold 330,000 shares in the firm less than one week after the firm paid a special dividend following a "solid performance". Neil McConachie, who joined the firm in February 2006, sold 100,000 shares at 732p, 150,000 at £7.50 a
Read moreLondon close: Footsie drifts lower ahead of Greek vote
4th Nov 2011 17:00
Things were going relatively swimmingly in London, until US jobs data prompted some investors to bank profits ahead of this evening's vote-of-confidence vote in the Greek parliament. The vote could be 'make-or-break' for prime minister George Papandreou. Many leading politicians in Greece have cal
Read moreLancashire pays another special divi after 'solid performance'
4th Nov 2011 16:52
Third-quarter figures from Lancashire Holdings were rosy, with the insurance broker admitting it got off fairly lightly in the Atlantic wind season. "Lancashire has delivered another solid performance this quarter. The Atlantic wind season threatened serious losses with the US landfall of Hurricane
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Lancashire pays another special divi
4th Nov 2011 16:38
Third-quarter figures from Lancashire Holdings were rosy, with the insurance broker admitting it got off fairly lightly in the Atlantic wind season. "The Atlantic wind season threatened serious losses with the US landfall of Hurricane Irene, but a fall in the intensity of the wind speeds resulted i
Read moreLancashire president continues buying
23rd Aug 2011 15:37
Neil McConachie, president of Lancashire Holdings, has upped his stake in the FTSE 250-listed speciality insurance group, spending more than £230,000. Despite its name, Lancashire underwrites from offices in London and Bermuda and has a marketing operation in Dubai. Its main business areas are avia
Read moreEasyJet's director increases his stake
11th Aug 2011 12:30
EasyJet's director Sir Michael Rake has reached into his back pocket to purchase 3,108 shares in his company. The shares, bought at 319.184p each, brings Sir Rake's total to 12,308, representing a 0.0029% stake in the budget airline. Sir Rake joined the board in 2009 and took up his current po
Read moreTed Baker finance boss trousers £2m
4th Jul 2011 16:21
Ted Baker's finance boss Lindsay Page has slashed his holding in the fashion retailer, pocketing £2m in the process. He offloaded 250,000 shares at 800p a pop, but still has nearly 44,000, or about 0.1% of the company. Ted Baker has been doing well despite the tough economic climate; the shares ha
Read moreNew AMEC chairman spends £200,000
3rd Jun 2011 15:38
Another director at AMEC has picked up shares in the engineering and project management company. New chairman John Connolly took 17,500 shares at 1,118p a time, paying a total of more than £200,000. He got them cheaper than non-executive director Colin Day, who bought 10,000 shares at 1,140p a pop
Read moreElevator man buys BP shares
24th May 2011 15:36
Non-executive director George David bought more than £800,000 of shares in BP yesterday, the oil giant announced today. He bought 30,000 American Depositary Receipts (ADS), which is equivalent to 180,000 ordinary BP shares. He paid $43.99 each for half of the ADSs and $43.98 for the other half. Da
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for FTSE 100
21st Apr 2011 16:53
Shares calmed down at the end of a volatile week, though there were some interesting company updates for traders to get their teeth into ahead of the Easter break. Data search software firm Autonomy stormed ahead after releasing full-year figures in the afternoon. It posted record earnings in the f
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