London close: Footsie at 2-week low
8th Jun 2010 16:14
London fell for the third session in a row Tuesday, damaged by a further slump at BP and as a wave of selling sank the banking sector. Comments from ratings agency Fitch about Britain's "formidable" budget deficit didn't go down well, but it was BP that stood out, hitting a 20-month low as the flow
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners revival not enough
8th Jun 2010 14:40
Footsie staged a small revival over the lunch time session, helped by a recovery by mining stocks, but the majority of FTSE 100 constituents are still in the red with laggards outnumbering leaders by three to one. BP is again among the worst performers as US president Barack Obama said he'd sack t
Read morePRESS RELEASE: Fitch Assigns RBS's Covered Bond Programme Expected 'AAA' Rating
8th Jun 2010 12:53
Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: The Royal Bank of Scotland plc - Mortgage Covered Bondshttp://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=528245Fitch Ratings-London-08 June 2010: Fitch Ratings has today assigned the Royal Bank of Scotland plc's (RBS, rated 'AA-'/Stable/'F1+') mort
Read moreLondon midday: Blue chips struggle
8th Jun 2010 12:35
Blue chips struggled all morning with BP under the cosh again and investors surprised by the retirement of Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy. BP is again among the worst performers as US president Barack Obama said he'd sack the British company's chief executive Tony Hayward. In an interview with NBC to b
Read moreThree Bidders Shortlisted For RBS' Merchant Svcs Unit-Sources
8th Jun 2010 10:11
By Patricia Kowsmann and Marietta Cauchi Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS) has shortlisted three private-equity firms for the acquisition of its Global Merchant Services payments-processing unit, valued at up to GBP2.5 billion, people familiar
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Bank shares slump
25th May 2010 15:26
Concerns about the banking sector in the EU have hit Footsie and there are no risers today. The London Interbank Offered Rate has been rising because of worries about the health of the banking system. In Spain, regulators are plotting consolidation in the Spanish banking sector. Lloyds Banking,
Read moreLondon afternoon Markets in full-scale retreat
25th May 2010 14:35
Shares are in full-scale retreat around the World with the Dow over 250 points lower soon after the opening bell. London is lower by a similar amount in percentage terms, as concerns over a possible bail-out of Spain and growing military tensions between North and South Korea. Moves by Spanish reg
Read moreLondon midday: Prices bottom out
25th May 2010 12:02
The FTSE 100 dived below the 5,000 level in the first few minutes of trading and at one point in the morning session dipped briefly below 4,900 but prices have now stabilised. Though it is scant consolation, London is not alone in shifting violently into reverse gear, as increasing fears about a p
Read moreLondon open: Footsie hammered down through 5,000
25th May 2010 08:40
Shares have taken a pasting in early dealings as worries over the European debt situation continue to plague markets around the world. US and Asia markets tumbled overnight and London has followed them down with no risers on Footsie at present. The best blue chip performer is Severn Trent at minus
Read moreLondon close: Late rally limits losses
21st May 2010 16:32
It was a volatile day on the markets, but Footsie rallied back above 5,000 points before the close, having sunk below that level earlier in the afternoon, and finished only slightly in the red. European worries are continuing to set traders' nerves on edge. Germany's parliament approved the country
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie sinks below 5,000
21st May 2010 14:24
The FTSE 100 has plunged below 5,000 for the first time in over six months as markets continue to fret about Europe's sovereign debt crisis and potential financial regulation. London's leading index sank below the big figure just after midday. It hasn't been this low since early November and hasn't
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks head the slide
21st May 2010 14:15
As Footsie slides below 5,000 it is the banks that are leading it downwards. Lloyds Banking, RBS and Standard Chartered are the worst performing banks. Brewer SABMiller is another of the major losers after yesterday's results and share sales by directors. Chief executive Graham MacKay raised £10
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie back in the red
21st May 2010 11:38
After briefly tip-toeing into the blue, Footsie is now back in the red again as concerns about eurozone debt persist. Germany's parliament is expected to approve the country's share of a €750bn eurozone rescue package on Friday. Both houses of parliament are scheduled to vote on its potential €148b
Read moreLondon open: Modest fall for Footsie
21st May 2010 08:48
London's top stocks have opened lower but the decline is modest compared to the hammering US blue chips took overnight. British Airways record pre-tax loss of £531m is providing some distraction. The carrier was hit by strike action, bad winter weather disruption and the impact from the global rece
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Market slide, BP, British Airways
21st May 2010 06:26
Markets on both sides of the Atlantic dipped to fresh lows as fears surrounding the fate of the euro project transmuted into worries about the wider global economic system. Bill Gross of bond fund Pimco said that hedge funds were starting to liquidate their positions in a bid to preserve their capi
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