London open: RBS provides a boost early on
23rd Feb 2012 08:25
- RBS leads banks higher after results. - Capita rises strongly after bullish outlook. - EU expected to cut Eurozone GDP forecasts. The Footsie opened slightly higher on Thursday as the markets digested a host of results, with heavyweights such as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Capita, Centrica, RSA
Read moreLondon pre-open: Markets set for a flat start
23rd Feb 2012 07:32
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open flat following yesterday's close of 5,917, with investor focus likely to be on RBS results and somewhat dampened by a fall seen across the major US indices last night. Provisions for mis-selling of payment protection insurance schemes and Greek debt ens
Read morePPI and Greek debt drag down RBS
23rd Feb 2012 07:14
Provisions for mis-selling of payment protection insurance schemes and Greek debt ensured part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland made a pre-tax loss in 2011, though the core business was profitable at the operating level. "RBS Core profits - the ongoing bank - were £6bn, comparing well wit
Read moreThursday preview: RBS, RSA, BATs, Capita, Centrica
22nd Feb 2012 18:43
The long awaited results from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are due out on Thursday, but the editorialising over bankers' bonuses has already started, with reports emerging on Wednesday that the part-nationalised lender is planning on giving out massive pay-outs to members of its investment banking d
Read moreRBS to pay monster bonuses to investment bankers
22nd Feb 2012 14:50
In a move that will likely give the 'banker-bashers' something else to complain about, part-nationalised lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is planning on giving out nhundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses to its investment banking division for their work in 2011. According to the City editor o
Read moreRBS Asia deal announcement looking 'unlikely' by Thursday
22nd Feb 2012 13:21
Royal Bank of Scotland's long-awaited deal to secure a buyer for its Asian business has hit a bump in the road, meaning the deal may not be unveiled on Thursday as has been widely speculated, people knowledgeable of the matter said. It had been expected that RBS would announce a deal with either C
Read moreLondon open: Footsie slips as ex-div stocks provide a drag
22nd Feb 2012 08:35
- Shell makes near-£1bn bid for Cove Energy. - Markets digest Greek bailout, China data. - Ex-div stocks provide a drag. The FTSE 100 slipped slightly into the red in the opening hour on Wednesday as investors continue to digest the Greek bailout approved on Monday night. Meanwhile, Chinese manufac
Read moreLondon close: Stocks slip as doubts remain over Greece
21st Feb 2012 16:32
- Doubts still remain over Greek despite €130bn bailout. - Vedanta jumps on speculation of restructuring. - Kenmare rises on takeover rumours. London's blue chip index finished the day slightly lower as last night's approval by Eurozone finance ministers to grant Greece its next aid package underwh
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks continue to fall after Greek bailout
21st Feb 2012 12:01
- Eurogroup approves Greek bailout. - Oil stocks drag Footsie lower. - Tullow Oil drops despite oil find in Sierra Leone. London's benchmark index was trading close to its intraday low at midday as investors pondered the future of the Eurozone following last night's Eurogroup approval of the next t
Read moreLondon close: Stocks establish a new high for the year
20th Feb 2012 17:46
-Miners jump as investors seek riskier assets. -Officials optimistic about securing Greek bailout. -PBoC cuts RRR for banks. -ECB bought no debt last week through SMP program. Stocks rose on Monday and established a new high for the year after what appears to have been some genuinely positive new
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners leap on Greek deal optimism
20th Feb 2012 14:33
Mining stocks and banks performed well in the morning session, buoyed by Greek optimism and the People´s Bank of China's decision to cut its legal reserve ratio requirement for large banks by half a percentage point, announced late on Friday. Mining stalwarts Kazakhmys, Eurasian Natural Resources
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite increases on Greek bailout hopes
20th Feb 2012 11:32
- Miners jump as investors seek riskier assets. - Officials optimistic about securing Greek bailout. - PBoC cuts RRR for banks. With the possibility of a Greek bailout edging closer, and China moving to ease fears of a 'hard-landing' over the weekend, UK stocks had extended gains by lunchtime, wit
Read moreMonday broker round-up -UPDATE
20th Feb 2012 09:08
Whitbread: Credit Suisse recommends trading sell. Morgan Crucible: Credit Suisse raises price target to 375p from 305p. Halma: Credit Suisse raises target to 380p from 310p, upgrades to neutral from underperform. Spectris: Credit Suisse raises target to 1,900p from 1,690p. Lloyds: Nomura re
Read moreLondon open: Buying boosted by Greece, China
20th Feb 2012 08:26
- Decision day for Greece, hopes of a bailout approval boost stocks. - PBoC cuts RRR for banks. - Miners, oil stocks perform well early on. Just a handful of stocks were in the red in early trading on Monday, as market sentiment was lifted by hopes that Greece can secure its next tranche of aid. Me
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Lehman, Tax cuts, North Sea, Iran
19th Feb 2012 16:12
George Osborne came under pressure from three sides today to put tax cuts at the heart of next month's Budget. Nick Clegg sought to sharpen dividing lines with the Tories as the Liberal Democrats pressed for more help for low earners. Labour called for an emergency VAT cut while senior Tories urged
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