FTSE 100 movers: Gold miners move ahead
29th Dec 2010 12:56
Gold miners are heading higher on the back of concerns about the bond markets. African Barrick Gold is the best of the risers today alongside Randgold Resources. The US FDA says that testing and validation methods at Smith & Nephew's Tuttlingen plant in Germany violate rules. Banks are weak on
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie falls below 6,000
29th Dec 2010 12:18
Footsie has failed to stay above 6,000 today and it has been heading downwards since just after 9am. Blizzards in the US are driving oil prices to a 26-month high above $91 a barrel. Heating oil prices in particular are rising. Royal Dutch Shell was one of the best performers this morning but it
Read moreLondon open: Mild gains for blue chips
29th Dec 2010 09:17
It's a quiet start to the shortened trading week with investors seeming content to wait until the real action picks up again next week. Weather continues to make headlines with this time the blizzards in the US driving up oil prices to a 26-month high above $91 a barrel. Heating oil prices in parti
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Vince Cable, Citigroup, UK banks
22nd Dec 2010 06:02
Vince Cable was stripped of key roles on the media and telecoms tonight after he told undercover reporters he had "declared war on Rupert Murdoch" and planned to block his efforts to take full control of BSkyB. Dr Cable survived as Business Secretary on the insistence of Nick Clegg. But in a humilia
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 hits new highs
21st Dec 2010 16:36
The leading share index closed just off its highest levels since the first half of 2008, before the global economic crash, after banks and miners led another day of gains. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still going strong
21st Dec 2010 15:12
Footsie is still going strong after a decent start on Wall Street. The 6,000 point mark - not seen since the first half of 2008 - is in sight. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such as India's Vedanta and Mexic
Read moreLondon midday: Banks and miners buoy Footsie
21st Dec 2010 12:08
The FTSE 100 remains well above the 5,900 mark, with miners and banks moving higher in tandem once again. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such as India's Vedanta and Mexican silver specialist Fresnillo are go
Read moreLondon open: Footsie at 30-month high
21st Dec 2010 08:53
London has hit a new 30-month high on a partial recovery on Wall Street overnight and strong performance in Asia this morning. Banks are leading the way, with good gains for Barclays, RBS and Lloyds this morning. Reports, since played down, that Business secretary Vince Cable could walk away from t
Read moreBanks paid too little for toxic insurance
21st Dec 2010 08:17
Britain's bailed-out banks paid too little to get their toxic loans underwritten by the taxpayer, the National Audit Office has concluded, and could have afforded to pay another £4bn. Lloyds paid £2.5bn to pull out of the asset protection scheme (APS) in October last year after placing £260bn of it
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 shrugs off weather woes
20th Dec 2010 16:44
Shares held onto gains to close in positive territory despite the bad weather hitting travel and retail stocks. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers fell. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares stay buoyant despite weather hit
20th Dec 2010 15:25
Footsie is still hovering around 5,900 points following a mixed start on Wall Street. Snow-affected stocks such as British Airways and many of the major retailers have trimmed losses. Arctic conditions are hurting retailers at their busiest and most crucial time of the year. Next, Marks & Spencer,
Read moreInland repays RBS loan
20th Dec 2010 15:07
Brownfield land developer Inland has repaid all its borrowings from RBS so that it does not incur any penalty. The revolving facility with of £9.3m with RBS reduced periodically and expired on 30 June 2011. Inland says that RBS would "receive inordinately high fees" if the loan were not paid off by
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie tops 5,900
20th Dec 2010 12:00
Things turned around dramatically in the hour before lunch as the session came alive after a rather dull start, nudging a 2½-year high by midday. Defensive issues are still going well. National Grid, Scottish & Southern Energy and British Gas owner Centrica are expected to benefit from the cold sn
Read moreOsborne has to wait for bank bonus face-off
20th Dec 2010 08:53
The chancellor and business secretary's showdown with the banks has been postponed because of the weather. George Osborne, stranded in New York, and Vince Cable, had been due to threaten Britain's five largest banks with further taxation and regulation unless they water down this year's bonus round
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Bank bonuses, snow, BSkyB
20th Dec 2010 06:30
George Osborne and Vince Cable will today pile pressure on senior bankers by threatening tax rises and further regulations if they go ahead with another bumper round of bonuses. The Chancellor and the Business Secretary are meeting the chief executives of the five largest banks ? the Royal Bank of S
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