MBL wins Sainsbury's website contract
8th Nov 2010 17:50
Entertainment products distributor MBL Group jumped 20% after signing a two-year agreement with supermarket Sainsbury's to provide an entertainment products website. Sainsbury's is the first major customer to launch on MBL's new Ecommerce platform, carrying a catalogue of music, video, games and bo
Read moreLondon close: Two-year high for blue chips
4th Nov 2010 17:01
Footsie hit a two-year high as investors piled into blue chips after yesterday's larger-than-expected stimulus package unveiled by the US Federal Reserve. But the good sentiment was not universal, with some hefty fallers on the back of disappointing trading updates. Hopes that the Bank of England's
Read moreSector movers: Mixed day for food stocks
4th Nov 2010 14:30
Food-related stocks are mixed today. Tate & Lyle is giving the food producer sector a lift after the sweetener group more than doubled profits on sales that were boosted by higher corn prices. Meatpacker Hilton Food is also higher after saying that trading continues to be in line with expectations.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Morning's gains consolidated
4th Nov 2010 14:23
Since the Bank of England's noon announcement extinguished the small hopes of Britain joining the US in reviving its quantitative easing programme, leading shares have marked time. Miners are still doing particularly well on hopes that the Fed's stimulus measures will help sustain the global econo
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Funds growth for Man
4th Nov 2010 14:04
Hedge fund manager Man Group has risen more than 10% as funds under management grew in the third quarter of 2010. Man reported a rise in funds under management to $40.5bn (£25.2bn) from $38.5bn the previous quarter. The firm says that it was 'due to strong investment performance and favourable FX m
Read moreLondon midday: Market follows Man higher
4th Nov 2010 12:54
After a morning of holding its breath waiting for the Bank of England's pronouncement on quantitative easing, the admittedly small hopes that the Bank would follow the US central bank's lead and resume its asset buy-back programme were crushed by the announcement of maintenance of the status quo. N
Read moreLondon open: Shares jump after US launches second stimulus phase
4th Nov 2010 08:30
Yesterday's announcement of a second phase of quantitative easing in the US has sent shares soaring. Miners in particular are going well on hopes that the stimulus measures will help sustain the global economic recovery. BHP Billiton, Kazakhmys and Xstrata move ahead. In other sectors, Anglo-Dutc
Read moreMorrisons on track, inflation rises
4th Nov 2010 07:19
Supermarket Morrisons saw a 'solid performance' in the 13 weeks to October 31, while reporting a slight increase in retail price inflation. In a brief statement, the company said total sales excluding fuel were up by 2.8%, with like-for-like sales up by 1.3%. The company, which in September said i
Read moreThursday preview: BoE QE, Man Group, Unilever
3rd Nov 2010 15:58
By Thursday morning markets will know whether the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has resumed quantitative easing (QE) and, if so, by how much. Attention will then turn the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which has much the same decision to make as its US counterpart. Whi
Read moreLondon close: Banks behind fresh surge
9th Sep 2010 16:38
Investors were back in love with banks Thursday which, coupled with a big session for the miners, pushed the leading index to a new four-month high. The FTSE 100 finished not far off its best levels above 5,500. It was the first tim eit had traded above the big figure since May 4. British lenders
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks lead index higher
9th Sep 2010 15:52
Banks are leading the Footsie's rise with Barclays and RBS topping the best performers. Lloyds is also boosted by the sale of its debt holding in housebuilder Crest Nicholson. Miners such as Xstrata and Vedanta are recovering even though metals prices are weak. Chip designer ARM continues to r
Read moreLondon afternoon: ARM gives Footsie a hand
9th Sep 2010 14:44
Mining stocks continue to drive the market's advance, despite metal prices falling back as concerns grow about the Chinese authorities' determination to cool off the economy, with the latest report from the People's Republic suggesting that the government is set to introduce measures to curb propert
Read moreLondon midday: No change from BoE
9th Sep 2010 12:22
Footsie has fully recovered from a weak start and now boasts healthy gains driven by the banks and miners. As expected, the Bank of England kept interest rates on hold at 0.5% and the quantitative easing programme intact. The minutes, detailing who voted for a rate rise, will be more telling. Mine
Read moreBroker tips: British Airways, Morrisons, De La Rue
9th Sep 2010 10:52
German broker Commerzbank is keen on British Airways after a good roadshow meeting with the airline. BA continues to benefit from a strong market environment and is making significant progress on major issues such as pensions , the merger with Iberia and the transatlantic joint venture with Ameri
Read moreBroker snap: S&P sees tough times ahead for Morrisons
9th Sep 2010 10:51
Standard & Poor's keeps its 'hold' rating on Morrisons after the supermarket unveiled its first half results. The broker thinks that tough times could be in store for the whole supermarket sector. 'We believe the current, historically high level of promotional activity in the UK is set to continue
Read more