London open: Miners pull index lower
15th Nov 2010 08:43
Blue chips have opened lower despite some trading updates today, with miners the main drag on sentiment. BHP Billiton's decision to end its battle to buy Canada's Potash Corp for around $40bn and sweeten shareholders with a $4.2bn share buyback instead has not helped its share price. Earlier this
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small loss forecast
15th Nov 2010 07:37
Wall Street's failure to reclaim any lost ground Friday is expected to dampen the mood in London Monday. Futures prices point to an early 10-point decline for the FTSE 100 after the Dow Jones ended 90 lower in the US at the end of last week. Big news over here is BHP Billiton's decision to end its
Read moreDebt pay-down ahead of schedule at Persimmon
15th Nov 2010 07:02
Autumn did not bring the usual increase in visitor numbers for Persimmon but the housebuilder said sales volumes have remained stable in the second half of the year. The company reiterated its previous guidance of an increase in full year sales revenues of around 10% more than last year, but said t
Read moreBBA mortgage approvals at 18-month nadir
25th Oct 2010 10:22
There was more bad news for the UK housing market on Monday as the British Bankers' Association's measurement of mortgage approvals fell to an 18-month low in September. The number of new mortgages approved by members of the British Bankers' Association (BBA) in September was just 31,104, down from
Read moreLondon close: Lower finish for FTSE 100
10th Aug 2010 16:42
A poor reception for updates from the holiday-related stocks TUI Travel and InterContinental Hotels helped ensure Footsie closed in the red, while economic worries also weighed on sentiment. China's trade surplus hit an 18-month high as exports surged and imports slowed. Imports increased 22.7% i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Buyers take a holiday
10th Aug 2010 14:14
Leading equities moved further into the red over the lunch time session as investors remained concerned about slowing growth in the Chinese economy and signs closer to home that the Budget spending cuts are starting to have an effect on the mood of UK consumers. China's trade surplus hit an 18-mon
Read moreLondon midday: Consumer spending fears sink Footsie
10th Aug 2010 12:02
Concern about consumer spending has pulled the rug from under Footsie after a profit warning from tour operator TUI and weak retail sales figures. TUI Travel warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings faltered. Bookings by Britons are down by 2% over the past 12
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for Footsie
10th Aug 2010 08:54
London shares are lower in early dealings as comments from hotel and travel firms suggest consumers are starting to feel the pinch. Worries over the economy have certainly caught up with travel group TUI Travel, which warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings fa
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Xchanging warning spooks market
2nd Aug 2010 15:20
Business process outsourcing specialist Xchanging falls sharply after it warned that revenue growth for the full year will be slightly lower than previously anticipated. Shares in Tullett Prebon are higher. The raid on staff by rival BGC in the second half of last year cost the inter-dealer broker
Read moreSt. Modwen Props, Persimmon Signs JV To Develop 2,000 Homes
2nd Aug 2010 11:25
LONDON (Dow Jones)--St. Modwen Properties PLC (SMP.LN), a British-based property investment and development business, said Monday it and Persimmon PLC (PSN.LN) have entered into a joint venture initially to develop 2,000 homes on seven sites owned by St. Modwen. MAIN FACTS: -It is expected t
Read moreUK MARKET TALK ROUNDUP: BROKERS COMMENTS
28th Jul 2010 10:38
Broker comments in the UK today. Compiled by Dow Jones Newswires Markets Desk, [email protected] Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9464 [email protected] 0938 GMT [Dow Jones] Royal Bank of Scotland downgrades Barratt Developments (BDEV.LN) to hold from buy and cuts target price
Read moreMARKET TALK: RBS Reviews UK Housebuilders
28th Jul 2010 10:38
0938 GMT [Dow Jones] Royal Bank of Scotland downgrades Barratt Developments (BDEV.LN) to hold from buy and cuts target price to 110p from 162p. Says while higher land investment intensity will be validated if trading stability holds, it adds an extra layer of volatility in the event of macro weaknes
Read moreMARKET TALK: Panmure Buys UK House Builders On Valuation
13th Jul 2010 09:37
0837 GMT [Dow Jones] Panmure Gordon reviews UK house builders. Says after a period in which the share prices of UK house builders "have been significantly hit, we are turning buyers of all stocks in the sector on valuation grounds." The brokerage upgrades Redrow (RDW.LN) to buy from hold but cuts ta
Read moreUK MARKET TALK ROUNDUP: BROKERS COMMENTS
13th Jul 2010 09:37
Broker comments in the UK today. Compiled by Dow Jones Newswires Markets Desk, [email protected] Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9464 [email protected] 0837 GMT [Dow Jones] Panmure Gordon reviews UK house builders. Says after a period in which the share prices of UK house buil
Read moreLondon close: Footsie rises again after strong week
9th Jul 2010 17:07
Footsie finished a very good week on the up again, helped by gains for the miners, life groups and Smith & Nephew. Antofagasta was the stand-out stock in the mining sector after Goldman Sachs issued a "buy" recommendation. Goldman Sach also advocates buying Anglo American ahead of an expected adv
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