Sunday tips round-up: Ryanair, Petrofac, Southern Cross
20th Dec 2009 11:23
On Friday, low-cost airline Ryanair confirmed that talks had broken down with Boeing over the purchase of 200 new aircraft - and said it would not be ordering more. This means the company will start distributing its substantial cash pile to shareholders. Problems in the global economy mean the grou
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Darling, Strikes, Petrofac
17th Dec 2009 06:13
Alistair Darling has been accused of concealing Treasury figures showing how deep Labour's planned spending cuts will be and where the axe would fall on public services, says the Telegraph. The Chancellor, under pressure from MPs, admitted that "assumptions" had been made about spending levels but r
Read moreThursday tips round-up: GKN, Drax, Xchanging
17th Dec 2009 06:10
GKN yesterday delivered its first upgrade to profit forecasts this year ? but you might not guess it from the shares in the aerospace and automotive engineer, which actually fell on the day. At 113½p, or eight times the best guess of 2011 earnings, the shares trade at a steep discount to US peers. B
Read moreUK close: FTSE 100 closes higher
16th Dec 2009 16:43
Footsie ended with gains as better than expected UK unemployment figures lifted sentiment. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell for the first time since February 2008 in November amid further signs the UK economy is beginning to recover from the economic downturn. The claimant
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks lack direction
16th Dec 2009 14:30
Leading shares are mixed, with the Footsie dipping a toe into negative territory despite better than expected UK unemployment figures announced this morning. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell for the first time since February 2008 in November amid further signs the UK economy
Read moreLondon midday: Data gives blue chips a boost
16th Dec 2009 12:14
Footsie is maintaining most its early gains after some better-than-expected unemployment data. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell for the first time since February 2008 in November amid further signs the UK economy is beginning to recover from the economic downturn. The claim
Read moreSector movers: Oil services stocks move higher
16th Dec 2009 11:09
The oil equipment services and distribution sector is burning bright after well received results from two companies in the sector. Facilities service provider Petrofac expects full year profits to be at least 25% higher than last year. The company has had a good year in the contracts front and sai
Read moreLondon open: Decent start for Footsie
16th Dec 2009 08:40
London's blue chips have opened higher with financials and support services groups leading the way. It has been a busy morning for company statements ahead of the holiday wind-down. Overall demand at GKN has been better than predicted at its last update in October and the automotive and aerospace e
Read moreLondon pre-open: Market set for flat start
16th Dec 2009 07:41
The Footsie looks set to open barely changed, following on from yesterday's session which saw losses narrow towards the close. There have been some upbeat trading statements that might provide some share price action, but the update from Punch Taverns does not fall into the 'upbeat' category. The
Read morePetrofac expects record year
16th Dec 2009 07:01
Oil & gas facilities service provider Petrofac expects full year profits to be at least 25% higher than last year. The company has had a good year in the contracts front and said that with trading across most of its businesses continuing to improve, it should make profit after tax of at least $330m
Read moreLondon close: Footsie bounces back
27th Nov 2009 16:28
Footsie ended the day with good gains as investors' nerves calmed following sharp declines on the back of worries about the financial sector's exposure to a debt default by Dubai World. Shares initially fell, adding to heavy losses yesterday after Dubai stunned financial markets when it announced t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie advancing again
27th Nov 2009 14:11
Footsie has rallied and is now showing modest gains as worries over the Dubai debt situation ease. Royal Bank of Scotland has led teh recovery having calmed nerves by saying it has signed up for the government's asset protection scheme (APS). The bank said in a statement that the agreement was sign
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie still lower
27th Nov 2009 12:41
Footsie is still sitting slightly lower amid continued worries over the Dubai debt situation. But Royal Bank of Scotland is now going well having fallen back in early dealings on fears over the financial sector's exposure to a debt default by Dubai World. RBS calmed nerves by saying it has signed u
Read moreLondon open: Dubai fall-out hits again
27th Nov 2009 08:42
London has opened better than forecast after panic on Asian markets overnight over the problems in Dubai. Japan's Nikkei was down 301 points to 9,081, a new four-month closing low. Banks were bashed on worries about the financial sector's exposure to a debt default by Dubai World. Hong Kong fell ov
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 closes 32 points lower
24th Nov 2009 16:48
London ended the day in the red as the FTSE 100 lost its earlier gains after Wall Street opened sharply lower. London did not sustain a short-lived rally in the late afternoon. The market seemed to initially ignore Bank of England governor Mervyn King's cautious comments to the House of Commons Tr
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