FTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus cheered as Borland bid raised
18th Jun 2009 12:12
News that Micro Focus has improved the terms of its offer for legendary US software company Borland had shares in the software company higher Thursday. The UK firm is now offering $1.15 per Borland share, up from its previous offer of $1 per share, valuing the business at about $88m. Today's incre
Read moreLondon midday: Economic data knocks retailers
18th Jun 2009 12:02
Leading shares drift lower after disappointing retail sales and weaker mortgage lending in May. The economic data proved to be a double-whammy for DIY retailers Home Retail and Kingfisher, which feature prominently among the main fallers. Elsewhere in the retail sector fashion chain Next and Currys
Read moreLondon open: Miners and banks on the rise
18th Jun 2009 08:17
Miners and banking shares are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings following recent heavy falls. In the mining sector, Xstrata is the strongest performer, closely followed by Kazakhmys, Fresnillo and Antofagasta. Banks are also in demand, with both Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds
Read moreLondon pre-open: Modest rally expected
18th Jun 2009 07:43
The recovery in equity prices seen late in the afternoon session on Wall Street yesterday has encouraged traders in London to expect a modestly firm opening on this side of the pond, with the FTSE 100 tipped to open around 16 points higher. Dairy Milk chocolate maker Cadbury has left its revenue gr
Read moreMarston's announces £176m rights
18th Jun 2009 07:04
Pub group and real ale brewer Marston's announced a fully underwritten 11 for 10 rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately £176m. The group also said like-for-like sales in Marston's Inns and Taverns are up 1.1 % in the 16 weeks to 6 June 2009 and pre-tax profit before exceptionals for
Read moreLondon close: Triple digit fall for Footsie
15th Jun 2009 17:09
Footsie suffered a triple digit fall today with virtually all blue-chip stocks except defensive favourites such as utilities having their foot jammed hard down on the reverse pedal. Resource stocks led the decline as metals and oil prices moved lower. Platinum miner Lonmin was the weakest stock in
Read moreLondon afternoon: Prices steady at lower levels
15th Jun 2009 14:32
The market moved sideways over the lunch-time session, with the Footsie remaining deep on the red, despite a more upbeat assessment of the economy's prospects from the CBI. The employers' organisation reckons the UK could be out of recession by the end of the year, but any better sentiment was almo
Read moreLondon midday: Dollar rise knocks resource stocks
15th Jun 2009 12:04
London had a difficult morning despite a more upbeat assessment of the economy's prospects from the CBI. The employers' organisation reckons the UK could be out of recession by the end of the year, but any better sentiment was almost immediately squashed by the IMF saying the opposite. It believes
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Punch ruins day for rivals
15th Jun 2009 11:01
News of challenging market conditions from pub owner Punch Taverns weighed on rivals. It also plans to raise about £350m through a placing and open offer and buy outstanding convertible bonds via a tender offer. Enterprise Inns and Marston's are among the casualties. Heritage Oil leads the mid-cap
Read moreLondon open: Weak start for blue chips
15th Jun 2009 08:37
London's blue chips have fallen sharply with the miners taking the biggest hit. Platinum miner Lonmin leads the fallers after it shut down its Number One furnace. The group's initial estimate is that a full repair of the vessel is likely to take around 30 days. Other miners are also under pressure
Read moreLondon afternoon: Equities continue upward drift
22nd May 2009 14:08
The market remains in credit after yesterday's shake-out and while it is by no means a convincing rally, driven as it is largely by the strength of mining stocks, the hesitancy is probably dictated by the unwillingness of traders to carry large positions over the long week-end. Having been talked d
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Investors cheer Marston's optimism
22nd May 2009 12:26
Investors are toasting pub group and real ale brewer Marston's assertion that it has seen a modest improvement in trading since February. Chairman Ralph Findlay said he is cautiously optimistic as the company reported a 21% drop in half year pre-tax profits. National Express is higher the day after
Read moreBroker tips: British Airways, Marstons, miners
22nd May 2009 12:07
Things are so volatile in the airline business at present that British Airways declined to give any trading guidance for the current financial year with its 2008/9 results announced on Friday, making it difficult for analysts to get a handle on the company's prospects. Charles Stanley is playing it
Read moreLondon midday: Miners keep Footsie ahead
22nd May 2009 12:05
Footsie has made progress helped by a Goldman Sachs upgrade of mining stocks though buyers in other areas are thin on the ground ahead of the bank holiday weekend. Goldman Sachs foresees capacity restraints affecting iron ore and copper production by 2011. 'In contrast, nickel and aluminium do not
Read moreBroker snap: Marston's eye-catching divi looks safe
22nd May 2009 09:48
Doubts about the commitment of Marston's to maintaining its dividend have been dispelled, at least for now, by Friday morning's announcement of a maintained interim dividend. The shares are now trading on an implied dividend yield of 8%, underpinning broker KBC Peel Hunt's 'buy' recommendation. 'Th
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