London midday: Prices bottom out
25th May 2010 12:02
The FTSE 100 dived below the 5,000 level in the first few minutes of trading and at one point in the morning session dipped briefly below 4,900 but prices have now stabilised. Though it is scant consolation, London is not alone in shifting violently into reverse gear, as increasing fears about a p
Read moreLondon open: Footsie hammered down through 5,000
25th May 2010 08:40
Shares have taken a pasting in early dealings as worries over the European debt situation continue to plague markets around the world. US and Asia markets tumbled overnight and London has followed them down with no risers on Footsie at present. The best blue chip performer is Severn Trent at minus
Read moreLondon pre-open: Early slide anticipated
25th May 2010 07:37
Shares are expected to slide in early dealings as worries over the European debt situation continue to plague markets around the world. Tuesday's preliminary results from Marks & Spencer (M&S) came in with a slightly better than expected profit but the retail giant said it remains cautious about th
Read morePennon ups dividend as profits rise
25th May 2010 07:05
Southwest England-focused water group Pennon hailed another successful year after lifting revenues and profits in the year to March 31 and raising the full year dividend by 7.4%. Pre-tax profits climbed to £183.8m from £159.4m on revenues that rose to £1.068bn from £958.2bn. The proposed full year
Read moreNon-exec buys initial stake in Aberdeen
17th Mar 2010 16:02
Aberdeen Asset Management non-executive director Gerhard Fusenig has bought his first shares in the fund manager since he was appointed to the board on 8 October 2009. Fusenig invested nearly £129,000 in 100,000 shares, which cost 128.84p each. Fusenig is Co-Chief Operating Officer of Asset Mana
Read moreStandard Life executives add to holdings
11th Mar 2010 17:08
Life insurer Standard Life's executive directors have added to their shareholdings following Wednesday's full year results. Chief executive David Nish's wife Caroline has bought 75,000 shares at 206.05p each. This investment of nearly £155,000 takes the Nish family stake to 261,981 shares. Nish
Read moreBroker tips: RBS, water companies, Wolseley
26th Feb 2010 13:47
Initial response to Thursday's results from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was generally positive, but the figures have not made a believer out of JP Morgan. The US investment house is advising its clients to remain underweight in the part-nationalised lender after loss before tax at £6.2bn came in a
Read moreBroker snap: Water companies ripe for takeover
26th Feb 2010 08:28
Now that the haggling with the regulator over price controls is out of the way Royal Bank of Scotland has been poring over the numbers for the water sector and concludes that there is value to be had. 'We conclude that the sector looks cheap. We estimate that UU [United Utilities] and Severn Trent
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Strong smartphone demand lifts ARM
2nd Feb 2010 11:43
Shares in ARM Holdings are going well after market share gains and growing demand for smartphones kept the chip designer ahead of its rivals at the end of 2009, though sales and profits were still lower in the quarter. Engineering support services group Babcock is higher after saying it remains on
Read moreSector movers: Water stocks wanted
1st Feb 2010 15:52
Water companies are the stand-out sector. Northumbrian Water has spurted higher on reports a Canadian pension fund is poised to bid. Sector peers United Utilities, Pennon Water and Severn Trent rise in sympathy. With stocks broadly higher, defensively-oriented tobacco stocks miss out, with Imperi
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Northumbrian gushes ahead
1st Feb 2010 15:51
Northumbrian Water has spurted higher on reports a Canadian pension fund is poised to bid. Fellow water group Pennon rises in sympathy. On the downside, pub groups are out of favour, with Marston's and Greene King among the fallers. FTSE 250 - Risers Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) 288.80p +11.68%
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: SABMiller, Pennon, International Power
20th Jan 2010 06:39
SABMiller shares, off 41p at £17.80 yesterday, are trading on about 18 times full-year earnings. Not cheap, perhaps, but far from stretched, given stronger forecast earnings growth than any of its peers. Hold says the Times. Water utility Pennon's confirmation it will continue with its progressive
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Bunzl, Asos, Pennon
19th Jan 2010 06:42
Boring it may be, but Bunzl ? the distributor of carrier bags, plastic cutlery, protective masks and thousands of other disposable items for grocers, cleaners and caterers ? is one of the stock market's best barometers. Left to its own devices, its sales can be relied upon to grow just ahead of GDP,
Read moreLondon close: Good gains for FTSE 100
18th Jan 2010 16:33
Footsie finished the day in the blue despite a sharp reversal in the fortunes of International Power, which earlier had soared on speculation of a takeover by French power giant GDF Suez. Shares in the energy company slid from their earlier highs after it admitted it held talks with GDF Suez about
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks keep climbing
18th Jan 2010 14:49
Ongoing bid speculation, stronger retailers and buoyant miners have pushed London above 5,500. International Power is top of the pile on press reports that French power giant GDF Suez has made a takeover approach to the group, but there has been no statement from either side over the truth of the s
Read more