FTSE 100 movers: Investors toast solid annual results from Diageo
31st Jul 2013 15:11
Diageo, the beverages company behind the Guinness, Baileys and Smirnoff brands, was a high riser on Wednesday after delivering a solid five per cent increase in full-year net sales, driven by strength in the North American and spirits markets. Drinks company SABMiller was also making gains. Centric
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Publicis Omnicom, National Grid, Hammerson
30th Jul 2013 06:45
The tie-up of Publicis and Omnicom has been pitched as a "merger of equals" but one party is very likely to be getting the better of the other, the Financial Times' Lex column believes. Publicis is acquiring Omnicom and its shareholders will end up owning half of the company with revenues that are t
Read moreNational Grid invests in expanding regulated assets
29th Jul 2013 10:23
National Grid announced on Monday the planned expansion of regulated assets and reported a "strong operational and financial performance" in the three months to July 28th. The British multinational electricity and gas utility company expects to invest around £3.6bn to £3.9bn in its businesses in 20
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: IMI gains after Citi comments
19th Jul 2013 11:56
Engineering firm IMI was a high riser on the Footsie on Friday after Citigroup named it a 'Most Preferred' stock. The broker said: "We see further significant margin upside at IMI, driven by both mix and restructuring. A strong balance sheet and yield are both supportive, too." In contrast, techn
Read moreLondon close: Markets suffer another sell-off as sentiment remains fragile
24th Jun 2013 16:41
Markets suffered another heavy sell-off on Monday, sending the FTSE 100 to levels not seen since the start of the year, as concerns over a slowdown in China and last week's Federal Reserve policy meeting continuing to hit markets across the globe. London's FTSE 100 finished the day down 87 points,
Read moreNational Grid renegotiates New York energy contract
14th Jun 2013 09:05
National Grid has received new terms for its New York consumer energy rates with a lower allowed return on equity (ROE). The new two-year rate plan was approved by the New York Public Service Commission, with its current allowed ROE of 9.8% falling to 9.4% for National Grid's KeySpan Energy Deliver
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Wolseley bounces back from slump
5th Jun 2013 14:43
Building materials group Wolseley rebounded Wednesday, a day after shares took a hammering when investors noted a slight slowdown in the US and ongoing weakness in Europe. Investors today seems to take greater notice of the group's 7.9% rise in third quarter trading profits to £150m, reported yeste
Read moreLondon midday: Markets drop ahead of key US data
5th Jun 2013 11:18
It was another volatile morning for financial markets on Wednesday as ongoing worries about stimulus measures in the US and a heavy economic data schedule dominated market sentiment. The FTSE 100 hit intraday low of 6,453 this morning, the index's lowest level since the start of May. Concerns abo
Read moreLondon open: Stocks hit one-month low ahead of data, Tesco falls
5th Jun 2013 08:30
A flurry of economic data and renewed concerns about the Federal Reserve's 'exit strategy' from stimulus ensured that markets opened firmly in the red on Wednesday morning. The FTSE 100 hit intraday low of 6,507 early on before rebounding slightly within the opening hour - this was the index's lowe
Read moreSector movers: Utilities rebound after recent sell-off
31st May 2013 13:34
Utility stocks were making gains on Friday afternoon as they attempted to rebound following their recent falls. After an impressive rise so far this year, high-yielding utility stocks have been under pressure over the past week. While this could simply be a result of profit-taking, some analysts ha
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 down one per cent as volatility continues
31st May 2013 11:26
The volatile trade seen over the past week continued on Friday with investors turning nervous ahead of another raft of economic indicators from the US later on. "European markets have taken a leg lower this morning as traders look to scale back risk heading into the month's end, with the central ba
Read moreLondon open: Markets down as traders await economic data
31st May 2013 08:21
Stocks sank sharply on Friday morning, continuing the volatile pattern seen over the past week, as traders cautiously awaited more economic figures from the States. Stocks gained slightly yesterday as a worse-than-expected second reading of US gross domestic product growth and a rise in jobless cla
Read moreLondon close: Stocks end higher
30th May 2013 17:30
The FTSE 100 finished the day higher, although sentiment remained fragile following the sell-off the day before, with investors taking caution ahead of some key economic indicators due out Stateside, which in the end all came in slightly worse than expectations. Such figures may help a little to c
Read moreNational Grid Chairman lifts stake after recent falls
30th May 2013 15:19
Sir Peter Gershon, the Chairman of National Grid, took advantage of a dip in the electricity provider's share price this week as he raised his holding in the company by nearly a half. Gershon, who joined the board back in August 2011, purchased 18,800 shares at 798p a share, costing him a total of
Read moreLondon close: Stocks plummet as bond yields rise
29th May 2013 16:38
Financial markets erased yesterday's impressive gains on Wednesday as renewed concerns about the global economy hammered sentiment in London. "In an almost complete reversal of yesterday's price action the bears have reasserted themselves today, overturning the brief return to optimism as European
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