Persimmon home sales rise in second half
7th Jan 2010 07:03
Housebuilder Persimmon saw a rise in the number of home sales on which it achieved completions in the second half of 2009, but said it remains cautious on mortgage availability and the general economic situation. During the year the company legally completed the sale of 8,976 new homes, generating
Read moreLondon close: RBS leads the charge
4th Jan 2010 17:12
A strong start to the year on Wall Street gave London a boost, prompting the blue-chip index to finish at its highest point for the day. Part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland's led the advance after Exane BNP Paribas suggested that 'fundamental (rather than purely speculative) investor in
Read moreLondon afternoon: Buoyant Wall St. lifts London
4th Jan 2010 14:38
Shares added to the morning's gains over the lunchtime session, as investors correctly predicted a firm opening on Wall Street. The sale of Royal Bank of Scotland's Pakistan unit has fallen through after the deal failed to get the necessary regulatory approvals and complete before the 31 December d
Read moreLondon midday: Broker tip lifts RBS
4th Jan 2010 12:10
Leading shares moved into consolidation mode late in the morning session, with resource stocks the best performers. Cairn Energy remains the top gainer on news that the oil explorer has secured a second drilling rig to assist its exploration programme in the Disko West area offshore Greenland in th
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Restaurant Group in demand
4th Jan 2010 11:34
A positive note from UBS has whetted investor appetite for shares in Restaurant Group. Following a tough Christmas in the depths of the downturn in 2008, UBS thinks that the owner of the Frankie & Bennie's and Chiquito chains, will have seen better trading over the latest festive period and has upp
Read morePersimmon appoints bank expert to board
21st Dec 2009 13:32
Housebuilder Persimmon has acquired the services of banking expert and serial non-executive director Jonathan Davie. The 63-year-old, formerly vice chairman of Credit Suisse, boss of BZW Global Equities and non-executive director of Credit Suisse UK Private Bank, will start on 1 January. Davie is
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Berkeley falls back
4th Dec 2009 13:36
Berkeley is the heaviest faller after fewer sales and lower prices sent profits at the London and south-east focused housebuilder tumbling in the latest six months. Housebuilder Bellway slips even after saying ales volumes for the first six months to 31 January 2010 will be 10% better than the same
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Pub and house stocks in demand
27th Nov 2009 13:17
Pub groups and housebuilders are among the risers in the FTSE 250. Punch Taverns leads the risers, while fellow tenanted pub group Enterprise Inns is also posting gains. Enterprise was one of the fallers yesterday after O' Neills owner Mitchell and Butlers said it made a good start to its new fina
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: ITV up as Norman appointment brightens picture
18th Nov 2009 13:14
Shares in ITV are higher after the troubled broadcaster confirmed the appointment of former Tory MP Archie Norman as its new non-executive Chairman. He will take up the role in January 2010, when current executive chairman Michael Grade, will stand down and John Cresswell will become interim chief
Read moreLondon close: Good as gold
16th Nov 2009 16:56
Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared. Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sainsbury slides on sales leak
16th Nov 2009 14:31
After getting off to a flying start, the FTSE 100 index has drifted sideways since the middle of the morning. A larger part of the blue-chip index's gain is down to mining stocks, which are in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin leads the sector higher despite reporting a full-y
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Bellway and Barratt build gains
16th Nov 2009 12:12
Shares in housebuilders Bellway and Barratt climb after peer Persimmon said it has started to buy sizeable parcels of land again as sales have recovered to the point where it is fully sold this year, while orders for 2010 are up 50%. Persimmon itself fails to make it into the top 10 though. Among
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains consolidated
16th Nov 2009 12:11
Stock prices saw a modest amount of profit taking after the Footsie hit a 14-month high. Lonmin is leading the mining sector higher despite reporting a full-year loss. The South African platinum miner fell into the red in the year to September 30 as prices for the precious metal slumped in line wit
Read moreLondon open: Winning start to week
16th Nov 2009 08:42
Mining heavyweights head the pack Monday, notching up strong gains on record gold prices and demand for other metals. Randgold is top of the pile after gold hit a new record high. Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Kazakhmys are also riding high. Even Lonmin is better despite reporting a full-year loss. The S
Read moreLondon pre-open: Heading higher
16th Nov 2009 07:49
Wall Street's strong display on Friday looks like sending London higher in early deals. The Dow Jones shrugged off some disappointing data to close up more than 70 points. Futures prices indicate the FTSE 100 will start about 39 points higher Monday. Miner Anglo American has strengthened its manag
Read more