London afternoon: Footsie rise continues
1st Apr 2010 15:26
London's blue chips are being dragged forward by the US, which has opened very strongly ahead of the Easter break. Miners and oil companies continue to do well after manufacturing activity accelerated in China, while confidence in the Japanese manufacturing sector also improved. Xstrata, Randgold
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Gartmore recovery continues
1st Apr 2010 15:01
Gartmore shares continue their recovery after crashing on Tuesday as the fund manager suspended its star manager Guillaume Rambourg after an investigation into directive trades. Shares in Britvic fall back even after JP Morgan raised its price target on the stocks to 515p from 500p. The broker thin
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drive Footsie higher
1st Apr 2010 11:59
Resource stocks drove Footsie higher this morning ahead of the Easter break as commodity prices advance. Manufacturing activity has accelerated in China, while confidence in the Japanese manufacturing sector also improved. Xstrata, Randgold Resources, Rio Tinto and Vedanta Resources are the best p
Read moreLondon open: Miners and retailers in focus
1st Apr 2010 08:13
Miners are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings, while investors also ponder a mixed bag of retail-related updates. Xstrata, Randgold Resources, Rio Tinto and Vedanta Resources are the best performers in the mining sector. The cold snap in the early part of the year and tougher com
Read moreLondon pre-open: Slight gains expected
1st Apr 2010 07:33
Footsie is expected to edge higher in early dealings as investors ponder retail-related updates. The cold snap in the early part of the year and tougher comparatives contributed to a drop in fourth quarter like for like (LFL) sales at baby products retailer Mothercare. On the positive side, the int
Read moreCold weather hits Mothercare sales
1st Apr 2010 07:02
The cold snap in the early part of the year and tougher comparatives contributed to a drop in fourth quarter like for like (LFL) sales at baby products retailer Mothercare. On the positive side, the international division pepped up the group's trading performance in the 11 weeks ended 27 March with
Read moreThursday preview: Mothercare, Prezzo, Manufacturing PMI
31st Mar 2010 18:10
Mothercare is barely recognisable from the complacent UK-focused operator it was a decade or so ago, and now has far more outlets overseas (717) than it does in the UK (394). Brokers are looking for the international division to pep up the trading performance as UK like for like (LFL) sales growth
Read moreExperian non-exec improves his finances
10th Mar 2010 16:52
Experian non-executive director Roger Davis has raised just over £700,000 from the sale of shares in the credit checking firm. Davis sold 110,199 shares at 638.5p each. This leaves him with 110,000 shares in Experian. Davis joined the Experian board at the beginning of 2007. He has an army backg
Read moreLondon close: Healthy gain for Footsie
14th Jan 2010 16:26
London blue chips rose near the close to finish the day handily ahead, despite a disappointing response to the latest retail updates. Primark and British Sugar owner Associated British Foods was one of the few risers. The group had a better than anticipated end to 2009 and expects a 'significant in
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dairy Crest the cream of the crop
14th Jan 2010 15:18
Dairy Crest, which is in advanced discussions to sell 50% of Wexford Creamery to Wexford Milk Producers for about €9m, is one of the best performers in the FTSE 250. Turning to the fallers, the fall-out from the banking crisis is still hampering growth at financial services and healthcare software
Read moreLondon afternoon: US data hits London
14th Jan 2010 14:28
Disappointing US retail sales for December had repercussions this side of the pond, prompting the morning's gains to be pared. US retail sales fell by 0.3% month-on-month in December, against expectations of a slight rise. Miners remain wanted with Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Antofagasta am
Read moreLondon midday: Miners lift Footsie
14th Jan 2010 12:08
Footsie is in the blue as strength in the mining sector offsets weakness among retailers following a stream of updates from the sector. Xstrata, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta are all among the best performers. Rio Tintohailed another very strong qu
Read moreLondon open: Miners leading the way
14th Jan 2010 08:25
Miners are leading London's top stocks higher in early dealings on a busy day on the company news front. Xstrata, Vedanta Resources, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta are all among the best performers. Rio Tinto hailed another very strong quarter for ir
Read moreLondon pre-open: Strong performance in store
14th Jan 2010 07:50
It's been a hectic start to the day with mostly favourable trading updates from the big hitters. Share prices look set to follow Wall Street's lead and open higher, with the FTSE 100 index expected to open up 47 points higher at 5,520. Mining giant Rio Tinto hailed 'another very strong quarter for
Read moreMothercare like-for-like sales climb 4.2%
14th Jan 2010 07:31
Baby products retailer Mothercare saw a 4.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to January 8 after a strong Christmas. Total sales were up by 4.6%, with the UK seeing a 2.5% rise, international sales up by 9.3% and home delivery division Mothercare Direct seeing a 19.5% jump. In the fina
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