FSA loosens capital rules for banks
10th Oct 2012 15:33
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has eased capital buffers for the UK's largest banks, meaning that loans given through the government's 'Funding for Lending' (FLS) scheme can be effectively be classed as risk-free. According to The Financial Times on Tuesday night, the move "puts Britain at
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks top risers after FSA decision
10th Oct 2012 15:22
Banking peers Lloyds and RBS were leading the risers today after the Financial Times reported that the FSA has eased capital and liquidity rules in an attempt to boost lending. Meanwhile, according to reports this morning, RBS has agreed to sell two buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin to Axa Investm
Read moreLondon midday: Banking stocks gain, yet Footsie falls
10th Oct 2012 11:32
- IMF warns about Eurozone crisis - Unions call for strikes in Greece - Banks gain on speculation of eased capital rules UK stocks suffered more losses on Wednesday in spite of some relative strength in the banking sector, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned about the risks emanating f
Read moreRBS reportedly raises a billion dollars through buildings sales
10th Oct 2012 09:02
Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to sell two buildings in Frankfurt and Berlin to Axa Investment Management, according to news agency reports. Bloomberg says the properties are valued at about €790m ($1bn), according to people who were happy to disclose private information so long as their names
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall on growth concerns again
10th Oct 2012 08:45
- Growth concerns take down stocks again - Alcoa trims demand forecast - Banks could need to shrink assets, says IMF The FTSE 100 was heading for its third consecutive day in the red, starting Wednesday's session on the back foot with global growth concerns continuing to weigh on sentiment. Trader
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: BP, Bank capital, Direct Line
10th Oct 2012 06:30
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has stamped her seal of approval on Greece's austerity plan and vowed to stand by the country as "partner and friend", signalling almost certain approval for the next tranche of EU-IMF Troika aid. The German leader - protected by 6,000 police - braved hostile cr
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: BAE, Reckitt Benckiser, IMF
9th Oct 2012 06:41
Investor opposition to the proposed tie-up between Europe's aerospace and defence champions is mounting, with more than 30 per cent of shareholders in BAE Systems expressing significant concerns about the deal with EADS. Ahead of a takeover deadline on Wednesday, some of the biggest investors in the
Read moreLondon midday: Worries over growth hit the miners
8th Oct 2012 11:41
- Global growth concerns weigh on cyclicals - Investors worries about Eurozone uncertainty - Evraz sinks after gloomy broker comments After a steep fall early on, the FTSE 100 traded sideways for most of the morning session with cyclical stocks (including the miners and banks) dampened by concerns
Read moreLondon open: Stocks dented by global growth concerns
8th Oct 2012 08:21
- World Bank cuts forecasts for China - Evraz leads miners lower - BAE drops on risks to EADS merger UK stocks slid sharply on Monday morning with mining and financial shares weighing on the FTSE 100 early on as concerns over the global economy spurred a move away from 'risk'. The World Bank has c
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Greece, BAE Systems, Britain´s banks
7th Oct 2012 18:06
Greece cannot have more time to repay its debt to the European Central Bank because it would be illegal and "illogical", board member Joerg Asmussen has said, as he shut the door on pleas for leniency from the bank. Mr Asmussen said that the ECB could not lengthen the time period for loans to Greece
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Marstons, British lenders, Dunelm
4th Oct 2012 07:08
The Times Tempus column tips Marston's, which is investing spare cash in new-build freehold pubs offering informal eating and drinking in a pleasant environment. The benefit of this strategy was evident in yesterday's pre-close trading update. Marston's revealed that a revaluation of its pub estate
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: FirstGroup, Spain, RBS
4th Oct 2012 06:41
FirstGroup is considering legal action against the Department for Transport after it pulled the controversial West Coast rail bid in a humiliating about-turn, plunging the entire industry into chaos. The bus and rail operator, which had been awarded the contract after bidding £13.3bn to run the Lond
Read moreDirect Line flotation on track
3rd Oct 2012 11:29
Citing "sources close to the company", Reuters has reported that order books on the flotation of Royal Bank of Scotland's insurance business Direct Line have been covered three days into the company's nine day investor roadshow. As part of an agreement with the EU, the bank has to sell Direct Line
Read moreLondon close: Spanish concerns dampen stocks
2nd Oct 2012 16:37
- Moody's to reveal Spanish review this month - Banks provide a drag on the Footsie - Bumi and Bank of Georgia are big movers on FTSE 250 After a morning rally into the blue, the Footsie had dropped back into negative territory by the close of trade on Tuesday with uncertainty surrounding Spain con
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Babcock boosted by buoyant markets
2nd Oct 2012 15:51
Engineering support firm Babcock was performing well today after saying it was enjoying buoyant markets as customers turned to it to make cost savings. Jefferies, Seymour Pierce and Investec all hailed the first-half trading update as "in line", maintaining their 'buy' ratings for the stock while sa
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