London close: Optimistic mood ahead of Eurogroup, but risks remain
17th Feb 2012 17:10
-Merkel optimistic about Eurogroup meeting. -Miners lead gains on Footsie. -Retailer rise on economic data. London's benchmark index finished the week strongly - up 53 points on last Friday's close of 5,852 - as markets expressed confidence that the next Greek bailout can be secured on Monday. Af
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Hopes for Greece boost stocks
17th Feb 2012 14:32
Miners were in demand today, buoyed by rising metals prices which leapt on optimism over a Greek bailout. The latest reports from the troubled country are pointing to confirmation of the European Central Bank's participation in the debt swap and an increased control over the bailout by Eurozone offi
Read moreWeek Ahead: Tax-payers' banks set to report
17th Feb 2012 13:09
The bean-counters at Her Majesty's Treasury will be taking more than a passing interest in company results next week as part-nationalised lenders Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking both publish full year results. Forecasts by investment analysts can be made to look daft by unforeseen n
Read moreLondon midday: Greek optimism lifts the Footsie
17th Feb 2012 11:41
- Footsie rises as Greek optimism boosts buying. - Resources stocks track commodities prices higher. - UK retail sales beat expectations. The FTSE 100 had held on to gains by lunchtime - keeping its head above the 5,900 mark - as Greece comes ever closer to its crucial second bailout. Meanwhile a
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on Greek optimism
17th Feb 2012 08:24
- Footsie rises as Greek optimism boosts buying. - Resources stocks track commodities prices higher. - Record underlying earnings for Anglo American. London's blue chips recovered after yesterday's fall with the Footsie rising strongly in early trading on Friday on reports of measures by European l
Read moreLondon close: Losses pared after US data, Greece still a concern
16th Feb 2012 16:35
- Losses pared after US data. - Miners track metals prices lower. - European leaders weighing up ECB role in Greek aid. London's blue chip index finished in the red on Thursday but well off its intraday lows after US economic data came in stronger than expected in the afternoon. Nonetheless, concer
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Reed Elsevier leads risers, while banks and miners fall
16th Feb 2012 14:51
Information solutions provider Reed Elsevier jumped into pole position after seeing underlying revenues increase 2% in 2011, with all five business areas contributing to growth except the Exhibitions division, which was held back by biennial cycling. Nomura said today that the group's valuation - wi
Read moreOFT tells banks to play fair
16th Feb 2012 14:23
Do better by personal account customers or you'll be forced - that was the message behind a speech given by head of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). John Fingleton said competition in the banking system has not functioned well for too long, despite a string of investigations into personal banking,
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks off lows but still firmly in the red
16th Feb 2012 11:40
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - Real Eurozone GDP forecasts slashed in ECB survey. The FTSE 100 has come off its intraday low of 5,831 but still remains firmly in the red as delays in Greece, a warning to banks from Moody's an
Read moreLondon open: Stocks weighed down by Greece, Moody's
16th Feb 2012 08:35
- Greek bailout hit by more delays. - Moody's reviews ratings on 114 European financial institutions. - BAE Systems tumbles after results. London's blue chip index sank in early trading on Thursday, with just five stocks on the rise, as the Greek bailout faces fresh delays. Meanwhile, Moody's warn
Read moreMoody's reviews 114 financial institutions, nine in UK
16th Feb 2012 07:42
Moody's Investors Service has announced rating actions affecting no less than 114 financial institutions in 16 European countries as the sovereign debt crisis continues to take its toll. The credit ratings agency aptly points out that the "adverse and prolonged" impact of the euro area crisis make
Read moreLondon close: Stocks finish down with Greece in focus
15th Feb 2012 16:38
- Oil rises on supply concerns. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Samaras to honour terms of new package. Despite an earlier rise, the FTSE 100 index slumped in afternoon trade to finish in the red as strong performance by banks was offset by some heavyweight stocks that went ex-dividend. All
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Ex-dividend stocks provide a drag
15th Feb 2012 14:46
Drugs giant AstraZeneca plunged into bottom spot, followed by sector peer GlaxoSmithKline and big oil players BP and Shell, after all four went ex-dividend today. Shares of ITV took a hit following a downgrade from Peel Hunt. The broker said that with the shares of the broadcaster having gained ste
Read moreLondon midday: Banks provide a boost
15th Feb 2012 11:45
- Banks lead the risers on the Footsie. - PBOC to keep buying Eurozone debt. - Venizelos foresees bailout resolution. UK stocks were slightly higher by midday after China pledged to continue buying Eurozone bonds, easing concerns of the region's debt crisis. Banks were the best performers of the d
Read moreRBS insurance spin off could enter FTSE 100
15th Feb 2012 10:06
Royal Bank of Scotland's insurance business has been renamed Direct Line Group ahead of a possible initial public offering (IPO). The sale was forced on RBS by the European Competition Commission in exchange for allowing the British tax payer to fund the bank's £45bn bailout between 2008 and 2009.
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