London afternoon: Miners lead revival
21st Jan 2011 14:35
After yesterday's triple-digit fall the Footsie has clawed back around half of those losses, helped by a strong performance from miners. Weather conditions in Australia have improved enough to allow Rio Tinto to end the force majeure event that's disrupted supplies of aluminium from Boyne Smelters
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RBS in talks with Treasury
21st Jan 2011 13:33
Royal Bank of Scotland is higher on hopes that it can exit the governemnt's toxic asset scheme. RBS is reportedly in talks with the Treasury. BAE Systems is acquiring the 91.3% of Fairchild Imaging that it does not own for $86m. Fairchild supplies imaging components and cameras. It generated rev
Read moreLondon open: Footsie recoups losses
21st Jan 2011 08:53
London's leading shares have claw backed a small proportion of yesterday's heavy losses, encouraged by the late rally on Wall Street yesterday. Royal Bank of Scotland is leading the way forward after the FT reported that bank executives and officials at the Treasury are talking about ways for the
Read moreRBS in talks over toxic scheme exit
21st Jan 2011 08:47
Royal Bank of Scotland is in early stage talks over an exit from the government's toxic asset scheme, possibly even as soon as the end of this year. Stephen Hester, the bank's chief executive, had previously said that 2012 would be the earliest RBS could pull out, but both sides are now said to wan
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Google, Alan Johnson, BSkyB...
21st Jan 2011 06:37
Larry Page sent shockwaves throughout corporate America last night by replacing Eric Schmidt as chief executive of Google and seizing back control of the company he co-founded in 1998. Mr Schmidt, who was hired by Mr Page and Sergey Brin to help to build Google's corporate infrastructure as it grew
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 dives in late trading
19th Jan 2011 16:40
What started as a sluggish day turned into a bit of a bloodbath with the top share index plummeting ahead of the close. Stocks fell in the US after bank Goldman Sachs' net earnings slumped 38% in 2010 due to a substantial fall in profit in the final quarter Here, publishing giant Pearson was the t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Losses trimmed
19th Jan 2011 14:05
Share prices picked up a tad over the lunch time period, but fallers still outnumber risers by more than two to one among FTSE 100 constituents. Publishing giant Pearson is the top blue-chip performer after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major busi
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 falls back despite cheery updates
19th Jan 2011 12:01
The top share index is still in the red despite well-received company updates, with downbeat news from the retail sector weighing on sentiment. Publishing giant Pearson leads the pack after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major businesses sustained
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips flat
19th Jan 2011 08:46
London has made a flat start as investors mull over a stack of results and trading updates. Publishing giant Pearson leads the pack after the FT owner said 2010 earnings will be ahead of previous guidance, as all of its major businesses sustained their strong trading momentum throughout last year.
Read moreLondon close: Shares buoyant as updates impress
18th Jan 2011 16:42
The top share index closed near its highs, helped in part by well-received company updates. Burberry was in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group, with revenue up by 30% and profits now set to hit the top
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains get trimmed
18th Jan 2011 14:35
Share prices came off the boil over the lunch time session though Footsie remains firmly in the red, as things continue to look rosier in the eurozone. Burberry is in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group
Read moreLondon midday: Shares keep gains
18th Jan 2011 12:17
The top share index remains buoyant as mining sector strength and company updates attract buyers. Miners are strong led by Vedanta, Kazakhmys and ENRC.Rio Tinto's global iron ore operations set a new quarterly production record in the final three months of 2010. The group produced 65m tonnes in the
Read moreLondon open: Footsie back over 6,000
18th Jan 2011 08:49
Blue chips have rallied following a strong performance in Asia this morning, renewed demand for the miners and some good trading updates. Brewer SABMiller helped more drinkers in Africa and China quench their thirst during the third quarter, sending organic lager volumes up 3%. The owner of Peroni
Read moreRBS sells Priory Group
18th Jan 2011 07:02
State-owned lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has sold its majority stake in care homes operator the Priory Group. Private equity firm Advent International is buying the group, best known for providing rehabilitation facilities to celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty, for an enterpr
Read moreBuchan set to step down from RBS
17th Jan 2011 12:51
Royal Bank of Scotland non-executive director Colin Buchan intends to leave the board in March after nearly nine years in the role. Buchan, who is a director of Standard Life, is the longest-serving non-executive director on the RBS board having been appointed in June 2002. He was chairman of the
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