London open: Markets edge higher ahead of UK GDP figures
27th Nov 2013 08:15
- Second estimate of Q3 UK GDP due for release - Plenty of economic data from the States - Ex-dividend stocks limit gains in London techMARK 2,654.69 +0.19% FTSE 100 6,649.71 +0.20% FTSE 250 15,370.31 +0.42% UK markets edged higher on Wednesday morning despite some ex-dividend stocks capping gains
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Qinetiq, National Grid
22nd Nov 2013 07:25
Qinetiq on Thursday unveiled a sharp drop in pre-tax profits as operating margins shrank by a third. Yet investors goosed the shares higher by seven per cent after learning that net cash was up by two thirds and that full-year guidance had been maintained. Clearly, some shareholders believe they are
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: WTO, Serco, National Grid
22nd Nov 2013 07:24
Negotiators are poised to seal the first global trade deal for more than a decade, in a rare victory for the World Trade Organisation, whose struggle to secure an international pact has increasingly threatened its relevance. The US and powerful developing-nation players, including China and India, h
Read moreLondon open: FTSE falls on Fed minutes and Chinese data
21st Nov 2013 08:39
- Fed to wind down QE in 'coming months' - Chinese PMI slows - UK car manufacturing up - Nikkei at six-month high techMARK 2,629.93 +0.14% FTSE 100 6,652.29 -0.43% FTSE 250 15,181.11 +0.02% The FTSE fell early on, as investors digested the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting, which rev
Read moreNational Grid defends dividend, H1 profits down
21st Nov 2013 07:31
National Grid defended its dividend policy as it reported a solid first half, although profits fell seven per cent due to financing costs. Chief Executive Steve Holliday said the company needed to pay a half year dividend per share of 14.49p per share, matching last year's, to reward investors for
Read moreThursday preview: National Grid and SABMiller report
20th Nov 2013 15:05
National Grid is on Thursday expected to report a 6.3 per cent fall in half-year pre-tax profit to 1.1bn pounds, reflecting a new accounting standard on pension charges. Deutsche Bank said the results would reveal a steady start to the new RIIO UK network price control regime which regulates the co
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Minority investors, chemicals, power shortages
6th Nov 2013 07:20
Half of the UK's top flight FTSE 100 companies are to be hit by new rules designed to prevent a repeat of the stock market scandals at companies like ENRC and Bumi, where controlling shareholders rode roughshod over ordinary investors. The City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has o
Read moreLondon open: Upbeat earnings lift markets higher ahead of US data
22nd Oct 2013 08:15
Upbeat corporate earnings from a number of heavyweight stocks helped UK markets higher on Tuesday morning as investors showed optimism ahead of some key economic data out later on. The FTSE 100 was trading up 0.1% at 6,659.87 early on, building on gains after hitting a two-and-a-half-month high on
Read moreBroker snap: Market overly cautious on SSE and Shanks, says Credit Suisse
18th Oct 2013 09:25
Credit Suisse has labelled SSE and Shanks as buying opportunities, saying that the market is overly cautious about these utility providers. Proposals by the Labour Party to freeze tariffs may have increased political risk perceptions in the industry, but this could be mitigated by reduced spend, Cr
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Persimmon boosted by 'Help to Buy' confidence
10th Oct 2013 14:35
House builder Persimmon was a high riser this afternoon as optimism over the government's 'Help to Buy' scheme continues to help the stock bounce off recent lows. The share price has now gained over 10 per cent over the last two days. Whitbread shares leapt on market chatter about a potential spin-
Read moreLondon midday: Retailers, miners drag FTSE 100 into the red
8th Oct 2013 11:20
Markets were sharply lower on Tuesday with retailers and miners providing a drag as investors digested a barrage of gloomy economic data and the ongoing government shutdown in the States. The FTSE 100 dipped below the 6,400 mark in morning trade, a level seen as support for London's benchmark index
Read moreLondon open: Markets suffer as US crisis drags on
8th Oct 2013 08:49
The FTSE opened around 15 points lower this morning, tracking steep losses seen in US, as the political brinkmanship over the debt ceiling continued into its second week. Miners, a typically volatile and cyclical sector, were seen taking the brunt of the decline, with retailers - particularly M&S a
Read moreTuesday newspaper roundup: Economic recovery, Royal Mail, National Grid
8th Oct 2013 07:15
A sharp pick-up in sales, orders and hiring intentions across Britain has added to the growing weight of evidence that an economic recovery is rapidly taking hold. The barometers for activity in both services and manufacturing are pointing far fairer than three months ago, according to the latest sn
Read moreLondon close: Late rally not enough as FTSE 100 falls for fourth straight day
2nd Oct 2013 16:43
A slight bounce in the UK-listed mining sector saw the FTSE 100 rally on Wednesday afternoon but the index still finished firmly in the red, setting a fresh one-month low as political uncertainty in the US and Italy continued to weigh on sentiment. The FTSE 100 finished down 22.51 points at 6,437.5
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks take a hit
2nd Oct 2013 14:45
Coca-Cola HBC continued to slide lower to become the biggest faller this afternoon. However, much of the focus was on supermarket giant Tesco today as it registered steep losses after disappointing the market with its interim results. Half-year underlying pre-tax profit fell 7.4% to £1.4bn as an i
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