RBS to slash up to 30,000 jobs
21st Feb 2014 07:47
Royal Bank of Scotland is reportedly set to announce plans to slash as many as 30,000 jobs, reducing its staff count to the lowest levels in more than 10 years. It has also been widely speculated that it will unveil plans to part from its US investment banking business and some parts of its Asian
Read moreLondon pre-open: Higher start predicted for FTSE
21st Feb 2014 07:33
- Positive start expected on FTSE - One per cent decline expected in UK retail sales - RBS expected to announce major job cuts The FTSE is set to open in positive territory this morning, driven by a rally on Wall Street and gains over in Asia overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will ope
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Centrica, Lloyds, RBS...
21st Feb 2014 07:13
The boss of Centrica has refused to commit to another year at the helm of the British Gas owner as frustration mounts at political attacks on the energy industry. Sam Laidlaw, Centrica's chief executive, has been the target of personal attacks by consumer groups and politicians in recent months over
Read moreBroker tips: BAE Systems, RBS, BT Group, Rathbones Brothers
20th Feb 2014 12:49
Despite a warning from BAE Systems that cuts in US military spending will slash profits by up to 10 per cent, Jefferies has rated the stock a 'buy' with a price target of 350p, stating that the company's woes will be short-term as the firm's US businesses "hit bottom" in 2014. The stock sank sharpl
Read moreLondon midday: Chinese data hits miners, BAE and Rexam drop
20th Feb 2014 11:35
- Markets pare early losses but still trading lower - Weak Chinese data weighs on mining stocks - FOMC minutes prompt rate hike fears - BAE, Rexam fall sharply after 2013 results techMARK 2,861.08 -0.50% FTSE 100 6,777.54 -0.28% FTSE 250 16,246.72 -0.62% UK markets were trading in the red on Thurs
Read moreInvestec downgrades RBS to 'sell' ahead of results
20th Feb 2014 09:13
Investec has downgraded its rating for RBS from 'hold' to 'sell', recommending investors to short the stock ahead of the bank's 2013 results due on February 27th. "After the last RBS share price correction, we recommended taking profits/closing short positions," said Analyst Ian Gordon, referring
Read moreLondon open: BAE, Rexam lead markets lower early on
20th Feb 2014 09:04
- BAE and Rexam disappoint with guidance - Mining stocks fall after Chinese manufacturing data - FOMC minutes in focus techMARK 2,849.73 -0.90% FTSE 100 6,750.47 -0.68% FTSE 250 16,220.96 -0.77% UK stocks fell on Thursday morning, tracking losses on US and Asian markets, with heavy losses from blu
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
20th Feb 2014 08:49
Anglo American: Jefferies increases target price from 1450p to 1700p maintaining a neutral rating. BHP Billiton: Jefferies takes target price from 2300p to 2400p and stays with its buy recommendation. Big Yellow Group: Jefferies raises target price from 540p to 618p and retains a buy recommendatio
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: RBS, tapering, Facebook
20th Feb 2014 07:44
Royal Bank of Scotland has continued the cutback of its investment banking arm with the sale of the business's equity derivatives operations to a French rival. RBS said it had reached a deal with BNP Paribas to sell its structured retail products and equity derivatives to France's largest banking gr
Read moreRBS, BNP reach deal on sale of structured products unit
19th Feb 2014 09:31
RBS said it has reached a deal with BNP Paribas to sell its structured retail investor products and equity derivatives businesses, as well as associated market-making activities for an undisclosed sum. It added that the sale price "is not material within the context of the RBS Group", but offloadin
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends on a high after data-heavy session
18th Feb 2014 16:21
- FTSE reverses early declines to finish up 60 points - Banks lifted by UK inflation data - Anglo American lifted by UBS note techMARK 2,881.97 +0.86% FTSE 100 6,796.43 +0.90% FTSE 250 16,342.07 +0.60% Stocks reversed this morning's slight decline to end the session firmly higher, buoyed by a stro
Read moreBT brand shows most growth in 2013
18th Feb 2014 15:49
BT had the most successful year of growth of all British brands, findings by the Brand Finance Global 500 survey showed Tuesday. The annual study found that BT's brand value soared 70% to £9.3bn in 2013. "Its content focused strategy, investing huge sums in Rugby and in particular Premier League
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Banks driven higher by inflation data
18th Feb 2014 15:08
Banks charged higher on the news that UK inflation fell below the government's target of 2.0 per cent in January for the first time since 2009. Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays registered the strongest gains within their sector. BT shares were given a lift after the UK's Court of Appeal ruled t
Read moreUK stocks push higher after Eurozone GDP as miners gain
14th Feb 2014 11:39
- Eurozone GDP beats forecasts in Q4 - Miners surge as metal prices gain - Retailers, financials, Coca-Cola HBC lead the fallers techMARK 2,827.29 +0.12% FTSE 100 6,662.15 +0.04% FTSE 250 16,102.29 +0.45% A better-than-expected pick-up in Eurozone economic growth gave UK stocks a small boost on Fr
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: RBS, DX Group, Vodafone...
13th Feb 2014 07:19
Shareholders in Royal Bank of Scotland waiting on the sidelines of a looming multibillion-pound court battle against the bank must put up or shut up, the judge overseeing the case warned yesterday. Mr Justice Hildyard said that the time was "fast approaching" when the case should ignore the wishes o
Read more