London pre-open: Rally to continue
2nd Dec 2010 07:36
It look like UK blue chips will add to yesterday's strong gains following further gains on Wall Street overnight and in Asia this morning as hopes are high the ECB will save struggling eurozone economies. The FTSE 100 is expected to open up 32 points when trading gets underway, according to futures
Read moreMarstons profits rise as managed pubs shine
2nd Dec 2010 07:07
Pub group and brewer Marston's posted a rise in profits despite tough trading in the year to October 2, helped by its shift towards food-oriented pubs. The company, which operates centrally managed pubs such as the Pitcher and Piano chain as well as leasing premises to landlords, saw revenues climb
Read moreThursday preview: TUI Travel, Marston's, Kingfisher
1st Dec 2010 16:30
The market did not much warm to Thomas Cook's results on Wednesday so at least the bar has been lowered for package tour rival TUI Travel on Thursday. Earlier this week the company named commercial director William Waggott as its new finance chief. He will replace Paul Bowtell, who is carrying the
Read moreBroker tips: Mid-cap income plays, Carnival, Speedy Hire
8th Oct 2010 13:15
Broker Charles Stanley has run the microscope over constituents of the FTSE 250 index looking for key income buys and come up with five likely candidates. Though the broker was looking at stocks primarily for their attractive yields, it makes a good case for diving into the FTSE 250 for capital app
Read moreBroker snap: Key FTSE 250 income plays
8th Oct 2010 12:58
Broker Charles Stanley has run the microscope over constituents of the FTSE 250 index looking for key income buys and come up with five likely candidates. Though the broker was looking at stocks primarily for their attractive yields, it makes a good case for diving into the FTSE 250 for capital app
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Marston's, Greggs, Cranswick
7th Oct 2010 06:51
Marston's is for those who enjoy an old-fashioned pint and an old-fashioned pub company. Marston's shares sell on about ten times' earnings for the year to end-September and have the buttress of a 6 per cent yield. In a battered sector, a "hold" at least, says the Times. Greggs, the bakery chain, a
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish for Footsie as miners march ahead
6th Oct 2010 16:48
It was the surge in US shares yesterday rather than today's nervous performance that provided a lead for Footsie, helping London's top share index close with good gains. A nasty jobs report sent jitters through US markets. Private sector employers cut 39,000 jobs in September, against a gain of 10,
Read moreLondon afternoon: Airlines flying high
6th Oct 2010 14:30
Profit takers have skimmed off some of the cream of the gains seen this morning on mining stocks while the two big trading updates of the day have also sparked negative reactions, but Footsie remains comfortably in positive territory. Metals prices have strengthened in line with a weaker dollar, w
Read moreLondon midday: Autonomy cuts revenue guidance
6th Oct 2010 12:01
With metals prices on the rise mining stocks were the shares to hold in a morning session that saw Footsie make an assault on the 5700 level before falling away in the hour before noon. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are still sporting handsome gains. Metals prices have strength
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips power forward
6th Oct 2010 08:52
London's leading index has hit fresh five-month highs after the surge on Wall Street overnight. Footsie is now at its highest since April. Miners are driving the gains this morning with the top five risers all mining companies. Antofagasta, Anglo American, Kazakhmys and Xstrata are the best perform
Read moreTrends improve at Marston's
6th Oct 2010 07:14
Midlands-based pub group and brewer Marston's reports improving trends in each of its divisions compared to last year. Earnings before tax and exceptional items in the year to end September are also in line with expectations, the firm added. Managed pubs arm Marston's Inns and Taverns saw like-for
Read moreWednesday preview: Sainsbury, Marston's, Greggs
5th Oct 2010 16:12
With the half-year trading statement from sector leader Tesco out of the way the path is clear for fellow supermarket group Sainsbury to grab the headlines on Wednesday. Back in June, at the height of the World Cup, Sainsbury was doing a roaring trade in vuvuzelas, whch helped it achieve a like fo
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Legal & General, Taylor Wimpey, Mouchel
5th Aug 2010 06:10
From an investor perspective, there was an awful lot to like about Legal & General's results this time round. The company comfortably beat consensus forecasts on virtually every metric you'd care to look at, returning a pre-tax profit of £537m (against last time's £143m loss) and hiking the dividend
Read moreLondon close: Rally falls short
4th Aug 2010 16:50
The FTSE 100 briefly made it into positive territory in the afternoon session but that only lured out more sellers and the blue-chip index closed slightly down on the day. Shares in Next remained in the doghouse all day, not so much because of the performance in the first half of its financial yea
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks start to recover
4th Aug 2010 12:08
Leading share prices have come off the bottom but the FTSE 100 remains in arrears, following mixed news on the corporate front. Shares in Next are sharply lower. The fashion retailer has noticed a 'cooling' in consumers' demand in recent months, but still expects profits this year to rise by betwee
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