London open: UK stocks hit new record high on China rate cut
2nd Mar 2015 08:52
UK stocks rose modestly to a new record high on Monday morning on the back of gains in the banking and mining sectors, tracking a strong performance on Asian markets overnight after a rate cut in China. The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 6,969.46 within the opening hour, having risen as high as 6,972.01 in
Read moreLondon close: Stocks inch lower as US data comes in mixed
27th Feb 2015 16:43
Despite setting a new intraday record just before the close, the FTSE 100 finished just a few points lower on Friday as investors took profits after a batch of mixed economic data from the States. The Footsie ended the session down 3.07 points at 6,946.66, down just 0.04% from the all-time closing h
Read moreSector movers: Lloyds and StanChart gain but banking sector edges lower
27th Feb 2015 15:14
The UK banking sector was slightly lower on Friday as well-received results from Lloyds and decent gains from Standard Chartered were offset by falls in the share prices of RBS, HSBC and Barclays. The sector was down around 0.5% on average. UK lender Lloyds was trading 1.1% higher despite 2014 resu
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: IAG soars on higher operating earnings, Intu properties drops on lower rents
27th Feb 2015 14:56
British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines flew to the top of the risers after reporting operating earnings 80.5% higher at £1.4bn for 2014, thanks partly to cheaper fuel, while its Iberia division swung from a loss to a profit. Chief executive Willie Walsh said the Spanish unit's "tu
Read moreBroker tips: Lloyds, RBS, Rightmove
27th Feb 2015 11:37
Shares in banking group Lloyds edged higher on Friday after shareholders celebrated their first dividend payment in six years, though weaker-than-expected results prompted Shore Capital to retain a 'hold' rating on the stock. The broker said: "Based on last night's closing price of 78.5p, the shares
Read moreJPMorgan cuts RBS target, stays 'neutral'
27th Feb 2015 10:30
RBS' share price was spending another day in the red on Friday as analysts reacted to the bank's worse-than-expected 2014 results, with JPMorgan Cazenove cutting its price target on the stock from 400p to 385p. The broker, which retained a 'neutral' rating on the shares, said upside was limited with
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat early on ahead of German vote and economic data
27th Feb 2015 08:27
Strong gains from Lloyds, IAG and Old Mutual were not enough to lift markets on Friday as UK stocks held steady near record levels. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.07% lower at 6,945.11, after having settled at an all-time closing high of 6,949.73 on Thursday. Markets were directionless early on ahead o
Read moreLondon close: FTSE edges higher to new record close
26th Feb 2015 16:48
London's FTSE 100 managed to inch higher to a new record high on Thursday as improving economic data across Europe and positive developments in Ukraine boosted markets after a slow start. The UK benchmark index finished the day up 14.35 points at a new closing high of 6,949.73, up 0.2% on the day an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Chartered soars on new CEO, RBS dips after missing forecasts
26th Feb 2015 14:16
Standard Chartered surged after appointing former JPMorgan boss Bill Winters as its new chief executive, as it confirmed current head Peter Sands will step down in June. The bank also announced that chairman John Peace will step down in 2016. Mining stocks were on the rise as metal prices improved,
Read moreRBS's Swiss bank Coutts & Co under investigation for client tax evasion
26th Feb 2015 12:44
Following the admission of "unacceptable" tax evasion practices at HSBC on Wednesday, the Royal Bank of Scotland's Swiss private banking arm has also come under investigation by European authorities. RBS, which is in negotiations to sell the wealth management business, said Coutts & Co in Switzerlan
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks holding steady on a busy day
26th Feb 2015 12:20
UK stock markets were rangebound on Thursday morning on a busy day for corporate earnings and economic data, as investors maintained a cautious approach following the record peaks reached earlier in the week. London's FTSE 100 was up just 0.04% at 6,938.10 by midday, trading within a narrow range of
Read moreBroker tips: RBS, Standard Chartered, Domino's Pizza
26th Feb 2015 12:01
Investec has retained a 'sell' rating on RBS after 2014 results from the UK banking group missed market forecasts, saying that the stock's valuation was too expensive. "RBS has now achieved a seventh successive year of heavy reported losses (2008-2014 inclusive) and we expect only a 'breakeven' perf
Read moreRBS shares too expensive after poor results, says Investec
26th Feb 2015 09:44
Investec has retained a 'sell' rating on RBS after 2014 results from the UK banking group missed market forecasts, saying that the stock's valuation was too expensive. The company reported an attributable loss of £3.5bn for 2014, more than half the £9.0bn suffered in 2013. However, for the fourth q
Read moreLondon open: Influx of earnings and economic data keeps stocks flat
26th Feb 2015 08:24
UK stocks were more or less flat on Thursday morning with markets fluctuating at record highs amid a barrage of corporate earnings and economic data. The FTSE 100 was up just 0.03% at 6,937.80 early on. The index set a closing all-time high of 6,949.63 on Tuesday, having reached an intraday record o
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to edge lower amid flurry of earnings and data
26th Feb 2015 07:38
UK stocks were expected to fall for a second day on Thursday after reaching an all-time high earlier in the week, with investors digesting a flurry of corporate earnings and economic data. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open six points lower than Wednesday's close of 6,935.38. On Tuesday, th
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