Sector movers: Sainsbury drags grocers lower amid gloomy Kantar data
7th May 2014 14:55
A mixed reaction to better-than-expected results from J Sainsbury and gloomy industry data pushed grocery stocks lower on Wednesday. Underlying profit before tax at Sainsbury rose 5.3% to £798m in the 52 weeks to March 15th, ahead of the consensus forecast of £782m, on underlying group sales includ
Read moreKantar data shows supermarket growth at 11-year low
7th May 2014 13:47
Fresh supermarket industry data from Kantar Worldpanel has shown growth is at the 'lowest level for at least 11 years'. Figures for the 12 weeks ending April 27th show the British grocery market grew just 1.9%, which Kantar said was caused by intensifying price competition among the supermarkets an
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks slip on mixed earnings, Ukraine tensions
7th May 2014 11:57
- Markets give mixed reaction to corporate earnings - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - Investors nervous ahead of Yellen speech techMARK 2,783.30 -0.31% FTSE 100 6,773.54 -0.37% FTSE 250 15,890.46 -0.30% A flurry of mixed corporate earnings pushed UK markets lower on Wednesday morning, while in
Read moreLondon open: Ukraine concerns dampen stocks early on
7th May 2014 09:25
- L&G, G4S, Sainsbury and ITV lead risers - WM Morrison, ex-div stock provide a drag - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - Markets nervous ahead of Yellen speech techMARK 2,784.08 -0.29% FTSE 100 6,774.00 -0.36% FTSE 250 15,870.07 -0.43% Ongoing tensions in Ukraine and a host of mixed corporate ea
Read moreLondon open: Ukraine concerns dampen markets early on
7th May 2014 08:24
- L&G, G4S, Sainsbury and ITV lead risers - WM Morrison, ex-div stock provide a drag - Ukraine tensions continue to rise - Markets nervous ahead of Yellen speech techMARK 2,785.10 -0.25% FTSE 100 6,779.09 -0.29% FTSE 250 15,870.62 -0.43% Ongoing tensions in Ukraine and a host of mixed corporate ea
Read moreLondon close: Negative finish, weighed by Ukraine, Barclays, AstraZeneca
6th May 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 23.86 points at 6,798.56 - Barclays slumps after poor Q1 - OECD predicts 3.2 per cent growth in 2014 techMARK 2,792.09 -0.09% FTSE 100 6,798.56 -0.35% FTSE 250 15,938.69 +0.05% UK stocks ended the day in the red, dragged by developments in Ukraine and a poor performance by Barc
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Barclays, Mothercare
4th May 2014 12:49
Pfizer is preparing to put AstraZeneca in a "bear hug" by stating it will not increase its 63 billion pounds offer without getting a closer look at the UK company's drug prospects, the Sunday Times reported. The US giant will lobby Astra's shareholders to force it to enter talks and will also talk a
Read moreLondon close: Lloyds leads positive finish for FTSE
1st May 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes up 28.84 points at 6,808.87 - Lloyds leads after strong quarterly performance - UK manufacturing PMI rises to five-month high techMARK 2,788.41 +0.28% FTSE 100 6,808.87 +0.43% FTSE 250 15,850.34 +0.21% London-listed stocks closed today's session on a positive note, with gains being l
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds takes top spot after strong Q1, TSB float
1st May 2014 14:32
Domestic lender Lloyds rose into the top spot after saying that underlying profits rose by over a fifth in the first quarter and it continues to expect to apply to regulators in the second half to restart dividend payments. That came as it announced TSB bank is due to float in London before the end
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Zero-hour contracts, The City, Channel 5
1st May 2014 07:21
The number of workers on zero-hours contracts has almost tripled to 1.4m since last year's estimate, according to official data on Wednesday that piled pressure on Vince Cable, the business secretary, to provide more safeguards for workers with no guaranteed minimum hours or pay. More than one in 10
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Premier Oil, Bookmakers, Friends Life
27th Apr 2014 10:08
Premier Oil has rejected two takeover approaches from Ophir Energy, the Sunday Times reported. The most recent proposal by Ophir was an all-share deal that was unanimously rejected by Premier's board two weeks ago. The companies are likely to inform the market about the talks on April 28th following
Read moreSunday share tips: Severn Trent, Ladbrokes, Lloyds Banking
27th Apr 2014 08:35
Severn Trent investors have reasons to be annoyed after the water company's performance since rejecting a takeover bid, Danny Fortson argued in the Sunday Times. In his Inside the City column, Fortson said Severn's shares are almost a fifth lower than the 22 pounds offered by overseas investors a ye
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: ABF rises US expansion plans, broker upgrade
23rd Apr 2014 15:00
Associated British Foods was in the top spot on the FTSE 100 after the company announced its intention to expand its fast-growing Primark brand into the US towards the end of next year. Panmure Gordon upgraded its rating for the stock from 'hold' to 'buy'. saying: "This is sooner than we had antici
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
23rd Apr 2014 09:04
AB Foods: Numis upgrades from sell to reduce with a target price of 2240p. AstraZeneca: Citi raises target price from 3500p to 4900p and upgrades to buy. Fenner: Investec cuts target price from 375p to 360p and reiterates its sell recommendation. Genus: N+1 Singer upgrades to hold with a target p
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads banks higher on shake-up speculation
17th Apr 2014 14:07
The share price of Barclays rose strongly on Thursday amid speculation the bank could announce thousands of further job cuts in its investment banking division as part of a corporate shake-up. Barclays released a statement today which announced that it would update shareholders next month on its s
Read more