Sector movers: Banks rise as Lloyds impresses with first-quarter profits
1st May 2014 14:05
Well-received results from Lloyds gave the UK-listed banking sector a boost, as the domestic lender reported that underlying profits jumped by over a fifth in the first quarter. Underlying profits rose by 22% in the first three months of the year to £1.8bn, helped by a 10% rise in net interest inco
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: AstraZeneca soars on Pfizer bid interest
28th Apr 2014 14:40
AstraZeneca was the day's stand-out performer, up by more than 15 per cent this afternoon after US pharma giant Pfizer confirmed that it had made a 'preliminary, non-binding indication of interest' regarding a possible merger in January. The 60bn pound proposal was rejected by AstraZeneca's board bu
Read moreSunday share tips: Severn Trent, Ladbrokes, Lloyds Banking
27th Apr 2014 08:35
Severn Trent investors have reasons to be annoyed after the water company's performance since rejecting a takeover bid, Danny Fortson argued in the Sunday Times. In his Inside the City column, Fortson said Severn's shares are almost a fifth lower than the 22 pounds offered by overseas investors a ye
Read moreRBS may face legal action over 2008 rights issue
25th Apr 2014 15:37
State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland could face the start of legal action next week by investors claiming it misled them over its rights issue in 2008. RBS may receive lawsuits in a London court on Wednesday from Legal & General (L&G), Standard Life, Prudential, Aviva and Universities Superannuation
Read moreSector movers: HSBC leads banking stocks lower
25th Apr 2014 15:31
Banking stocks were under pressure on Friday with global lender HSBC leading the decline after a broker downgrade. HSBC was trading 2% lower at 600.5p in the afternoon session after Morgan Stanley analysts lowered their recommendation on the stock from 'equal weight' to 'underweight'. The US bank
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall as Ukraine crisis offsets UK retail sales
25th Apr 2014 11:44
- Ukraine tensions prompt profit taking - S&P downgrades Russia - UK retail sales beat forecasts - Pearson and William Hill gain after updates, Tullow falls techMARK 2,754.20 -0.20% FTSE 100 6,679.08 -0.36% FTSE 250 15,950.90 -0.26% UK stocks were trading with small losses on Friday, pulling back
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
25th Apr 2014 09:19
African Barrick Gold: Deutsche Bank lowers target price from 310p to 300p maintaining a buy recommendation. Anglo American: Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 1530p to 1510p and reiterates a hold recommendation. ASOS: Deutsche Bank upgrades to buy with a target price of 5800p. Astra Zeneca: Deu
Read moreRBS forced to back down from double fixed-pay plan
25th Apr 2014 08:54
Majority state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland has axed a plan to hand out bonuses worth double fixed-pay after the British government refused to back it. RBS said on Friday that it would not ask investors to back a variable remuneration rate of up to 200% of salaries, or two-for-one ratio, at its ann
Read moreRBS pulls pay proposals after UKFI voices objections - Alert
25th Apr 2014 08:37
Royal Bank of Scotland Group has withdrawn its plans to propose to shareholders a variable remuneration rate of up to 200 per cent of fixed pay, or two-for-one ratio, after UKFI informed the board that it would vote against the resolution. -- More to follow -- AB
Read moreLondon open: Stocks pull back from seven-week high on Ukraine crisis
25th Apr 2014 08:35
- Ukraine-Russia tensions continue to rise - William Hill, Pearson and WPP impress with updates - Tullow drops after abandoning well techMARK 2,746.73 -0.48% FTSE 100 6,682.14 -0.31% FTSE 250 15,946.28 -0.28% UK markets retreated from a seven-week high on Friday morning as rising tensions between
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Ukraine, AstraZeneca, Scotland
24th Apr 2014 07:05
The rhetoric between Kiev and Moscow has taken a distinct turn for the worse. On Wednesday, Russia warned that any attack on its citizens in Ukraine would be considered as an attack on itself. That came as an 'anti-terrorist' operation against pro-Russian militants in the eastern part of the country
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: AstraZeneca, Ukraine, Tax cuts
20th Apr 2014 19:53
In recent weeks, Pfizer has held informal conversations with British rival AstraZeneca about a possible takeover by the US drugs giant, according to senior investment bankers and industry sources. With 50,000 employees worldwide the UK outfit, Britain's tenth largest company, might be valued at over
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays leads banks higher on shake-up speculation
17th Apr 2014 14:07
The share price of Barclays rose strongly on Thursday amid speculation the bank could announce thousands of further job cuts in its investment banking division as part of a corporate shake-up. Barclays released a statement today which announced that it would update shareholders next month on its s
Read moreRBS-commissioned report clears bank of SME fraud - UPDATE
17th Apr 2014 12:52
RBS has announced a range of measures to support smaller businesses when they get into trouble, after a report commissioned by the bank claimed it had found no evidence of systematic fraud towards its business customers. The state-owned bank was accused in a government report of institutional behav
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Lloyds Banking, Rio Tinto, Tesco
13th Apr 2014 16:14
Lloyds Banking Group is planning to begin the sale of its TSB division in mid-May despite recent market ructions, the Sunday Telegraph said. The initial public offering would see TSB listed on the stock exchange by the end of May. Some investors are questioning the value of 1.5bn to 2bn pounds place
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