Micro Focus soars after receiving approach
26th Apr 2011 11:23
Micro Focus International, the software firm which recently announced two profit warnings, a share buy-back, and the departure of its chief executive, has confirmed speculation of a potential sale. The group revealed on Tuesday that it has received a "very preliminary, non-binding approach in relat
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes just shy of 6,000
15th Apr 2011 16:52
Footsie finished on or around its high point for the day but just shy of the 6,000 level. Risers outnumbered fallers by about three to one among FTSE 100 constituents, with resource stocks featuring prominently among the laggards. Real estate investment trusts British Land and Land Securities led
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus drops after CEO exit
15th Apr 2011 12:53
The boss of software group Micro Focus International, Nigel Clifford, is leaving the company after just 11 months, sending shares plummeting. Oil firm Salamander Energy saw shares dropped by almost a tenth after its first stab at drilling the Dao Ruang-2 well in Thailand did not work out. The well
Read moreLondon midday: Banks dull after Ireland downgrade
15th Apr 2011 12:02
The top share index failed to regain the 6,000 level in the morning, but came close before subsiding just before midday. Banks are dragging the index lower, offsetting good gains among property companies. Banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Barclays are off the pace as sentiment sour
Read moreMicro Focus chief leaves after less than a year
15th Apr 2011 08:46
Shares of Micro Focus International slumped 14% after it confirmed chief executive Nigel Clifford is leaving the software group after less than a year in the job. Clifford is leaving the company with immediate effect after just 11 months. David Maloney has been appointed deputy chairman and will c
Read moreMicro Focus to buy back shares
28th Mar 2011 12:15
Legacy software specialist Micro Focus has flagged plans to buy back as many as 20.5m of its own shares. Today's announcement follows a slump in the share price mid-February following a second profits warning in six months. "The timing and quantum of any purchases will be determined by Micro Focus
Read moreFD's wife snaps up Micro Focus shares
3rd Mar 2011 16:51
The wife of Micro Focus International finance director Mike Phillips has taken advantage of the weak share price to invest £90,000 in the software provider's shares. Mrs Josephine Phillips has bought 29,139 shares at 308.86p each. That takes her stake to 69,139 shares. The shares were trading at
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 falls short as turmoil continues
2nd Mar 2011 17:01
Shares fought valiantly to finish in the blue but fell short as worries over the turmoil in the Middle East continued to cast a shadow. Gold moved above $1,436 to a record high as traders sought safe investments amid turbulent times. The oil price stayed strong having risen above $100 in New York.
Read moreTechMARK movers: Asterand spread widens
16th Feb 2011 12:39
Shares in Asterand have jumped today on the back of two trades. The human tissue supplier has not made an announcement for more than two months. The rise in the share price appears to have been due to a widening of the bid/offer spread rather than any real share price movement. When 13,792 share
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: British Land, Premier Foods, Micro Focus...
16th Feb 2011 06:38
More good news from British Land, with third-quarter results that had analysts gushing. The property company showed underlying portfolio growth of 2.3% (to £9.3bn) in the third quarter, comfortably ahead of the 1.2% and the 1.4% in the first and second quarters respectively. The shares are trading
Read moreLondon close: Late rally not enough
15th Feb 2011 16:44
Weakness in the US sent shares into the red and a slight rally in late trading failed to lift the FTSE 100 into positive territory. US retail sales were up 0.3% in January, according to the Commerce Department, though they'd risen 0.5% the month before and were expected to do the same this time. Ex
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Micro Focus shares fall 28%
15th Feb 2011 16:09
Shares in Micro Focus took a major tumble, losing almost a third, after the business software specialist reported third quarter revenues that came in well short of expectations. The group will take a restructuring hit of between $14m and $18m in the final quarter of this year after the "disappointi
Read moreLondon afternoon: US retail sales setback
15th Feb 2011 14:30
Footsie moved into the red over the lunch time session after the release of disappointing US retail sales figures. US retail sales were up 0.3% in January, according to the Commerce Department, though they'd risen 0.5% the month before and were expected to do the same this time. Excluding autos,
Read moreTechMARK movers: Micro Focus slumps
15th Feb 2011 12:49
Cobol software supplier Micro Focus has lost nearly one-third of its value as it warns that its full year figures will be disappointing. Revenues in the three months to January 2011 were below expectations and the shortfall will not be made up this year. A number of deals were deferred or lost. Th
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 little changed
15th Feb 2011 12:09
Shares are still seeking direction in spite of some notable movements in both directions. Barclays has moved ahead after results. The bank has cut its staff bonuses by 7% even though profits jumped by a better than expected 32% as bad charges tumbled everywhere except Spain. Pre-tax profits in 2010
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