London midday: Good morning for blue chips
18th Jan 2010 12:20
London's leading share index has enjoyed a good morning on hopes of a bid for International Power and a higher offer for Cadbury. IP is up nearly 5% after 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
Read moreLondon open: M&A rumours in focus
18th Jan 2010 08:19
London's blue chips have made a good start to the new week, with International Power leading the way on takeover rumours. International Power is up more than 5% after press reports that French power giant GDF Suez has made a takeover approach to the group. Cadbury is also among this morning's rise
Read morePennon agrees to lower water bills
18th Jan 2010 07:40
Water company Pennon has accepted Ofwat's final determination on how much it can charge customers over the next five years. The South West Water owner has decided not to refer Ofwat's price determination for 2010-2015 to the Competition Commission and also promised real dividend growth over the fiv
Read moreBroker tips: HMV, water firms, insurers
27th Nov 2009 11:39
HMV has been benefiting from the demise of competitors and is likely to continue doing so, says the broker Charles Stanley as it keeps its 'buy' rating on the music, film and video game retailer. Charles Stanley is not signed up to the scepticism about HMV's long term prospects expressed by other o
Read moreBroker snap: Evolution sees greater risk for water firms
27th Nov 2009 10:55
Evolution Securities has downgraded its recommendation on Pennon and Northumbrian from 'buy' to 'add' as it thinks the water firms face greater regulatory risks despite the relaxation of Ofwat's determination on how much they can charge customers over the next five years. Evolution thinks the firms
Read moreLondon Close: Dubai worries knock market
26th Nov 2009 17:25
The London market wasn't helped by a technical glitch at the London Stock Exchange but it was never going to be a good day due to worries about the debt problems of Dubai. The fact that there was no trading for more than three hours just made investors even more nervous. The FTSE 100 fell by more
Read moreLondon afternoon: Trading resumes .. so does the decline
26th Nov 2009 14:18
Trading resumed on the London Stock Exchange at 2:00pm after the exchange's technical glitch, but prices are not looking any healthier than they were before the trading interruption. Banks are under the cosh on concerns over Dubai's debt situation. The government owned Dubai World, which has debts
Read moreLondon midday: Trading suspended on LSE
26th Nov 2009 12:07
Banks shares are leading the market lower today as investors fret about the debt situation in Dubai. The government owned Dubai World, which has debts of $59bn, has asked creditors if it can delay debt repayments due next month until May of next year. HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds
Read moreLondon open: Dull start for Footsie
26th Nov 2009 08:35
London's blue chips have opened lower despite relief among water investors over the final price settings for the next five years. Water companies will have to cut bills in real terms between 2010 and 2015, the water regulator Ofwat said, though not by as much as it previously proposed. Ofwat said a
Read moreWater firms await Ofwat pricing proposals
25th Nov 2009 15:02
Water companies are not normally known as generators of great excitement, but all eyes will be on the sector tomorrow as the regulator Ofwat gives its final determination on how much they can charge customers over the next five years. With householders still reeling from the economic crisis, the wa
Read moreBroker tips: Retailers, Pennon, Informa
24th Nov 2009 12:52
Nomura Securities has been casting an eye over the general retail sector where it reckons almost all data indicators point to an improvement. The broker has picked four stocks it likes in the sector: Marks & Spencer, KESA Electricals, Home Retail Group and HMV. Marks & Spencer is set to 'benefit f
Read moreBroker snap: Hold fire on Pennon
24th Nov 2009 12:50
Broker Charles Stanley was reassured by half year results from Pennon last week, but as with all UK water companies, Thursday's Ofwat's final determination for the next five-year regulatory period 2010-15 is likely to have a bearing on its future prospects. The broker reckons Pennon remains 'relat
Read moreLondon close: Footsie ends weakly
19th Nov 2009 16:46
Footsie turned sharply lower at the close after a very poor start on Wall Street with the Dow down by more than 150 points in the first few hours. Miners bore the brunt of the selling with Antofagasta, Anglo American, Xstrata, Randgold Resources, Rio Tinto and Vedanta all lower. Platinum refiner J
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie stuck in the red
19th Nov 2009 14:06
Footsie is bumbling along close to its low for the day ahead of what is expected to be a weak start on Wall Street. Futures point to falls of anything between 50-70 points for the Dow when US trading starts, with weak metal prices likely to be a key theme. Here, lower metals have already hit the
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Morgan Crucible update fails to impress
19th Nov 2009 13:25
A cheery trading update from Morgan Crucible has failed to please the market and the firm's shares are the worst-performing in the FTSE 250. Materials company Morgan Crucible said that demand for its products has stabilised after a soft summer and expects its performance over the second half of the
Read more