London close: Markets lower despite better-than-expected Eurozone GDP
14th Aug 2013 17:27
A return to growth in the Eurozone wasn't enough to buoy markets today with the FTSE 100 finishing down 24.51 points at 6,587.43 after a choppy session. Eurozone gross domestic product (GDP) figures showed that the single-currency region exited a recession in the second quarter by expanding 0.3%, a
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RBS leads banks higher after Fitch report
14th Aug 2013 14:54
Royal Bank of Scotland Group topped the risers on the FTSE 100 on Wednesday after ratings agency Fitch said that a break-up of the state-backed UK lender into a 'good' and 'bad' bank is increasing unlikely as the costs would outweigh the benefits. Part-nationalised counterpart Lloyds was also making
Read moreRBS split into 'good' and 'bad' banks unlikely, says Fitch
14th Aug 2013 12:54
A break-up of state-backed UK lender Royal Bank of Scotland is increasingly unlikely as the costs would outstrip the benefits, rating agency Fitch said on Wednesday. The UK government launched a review in June to study whether it should hive off RBS' remaining toxic assets and bad loans into a so-c
Read moreLondon close: Markets finish lower despite mining strength
12th Aug 2013 16:44
Markets were choppy on Monday with early gains on the FTSE 100 being erased by the end of trade as traders reacted to mixed newsflow from Asia and Europe. Even a strong performance in the heavyweight mining sector wasn't enough to push the London benchmark into positive territory today, with Financ
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Prudential lifts H1 profits
12th Aug 2013 15:00
Higher income from the US and growth in Asia boosted first half operating profits at insurer Prudential by 22 per cent to 1.415bn pounds. The shares surged to the highest level since at least 1988 as the group raised its interim dividend 16 per cent to 9.73p per share. Silver miner Fresnillo and Ra
Read moreLondon midday: Markets fall on low volumes, Japan data
12th Aug 2013 11:52
In spite of a decent start, the FTSE 100 had swung into the red by Monday lunchtime, with analysts citing low volumes and weaker-than-expected economic data from Japan. Asian markets were mixed overnight with Chinese benchmarks performing well on an improved outlook in China, while Tokyo's Nikkei w
Read moreLondon open: Miners, RBS lead markets higher early on
12th Aug 2013 08:17
Markets edged higher in early trading on Monday as stocks reacted to an improving outlook in China and shrugged off disappointing economic figures from Japan. Sentiment surrounding China brightened last week as better-than-expected trade figures, strong industrial production data and subdued inflat
Read moreRBS sell-off unlikely for another five years, says Vince Cable
12th Aug 2013 08:02
UK Business Secretary Vince Cable said the sell-off of the government's 81 per cent stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was unlikely for another five years. Cable claimed it was "pretty unrealistic" that the bank would return to private ownership before the 2015 election. He also suggested
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Co-op Bank, BoE, Vince Cable
12th Aug 2013 07:01
The Co-operative Bank's fund managers are stepping up their fight over unpaid bonuses last year, the latest hurdle for the bank as it tries to tackle its creaking finances, The Times reported. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney's vow to keep interest rates at 0.5% until the jobless total drops to
Read moreLondon close: Stocks jump as optimism over China grows
9th Aug 2013 16:34
Markets rallied strongly on Friday as economic data from the world's top metals consumer, China, sparked some impressive gains in the heavyweight mining sector. A day after trade figures came in ahead of expectations, the outlook for China brightened further with strong industrial production figure
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
8th Aug 2013 07:10
Aquarius Platinum: Investec places its target price (prev.: 46p) under review, while keeping its hold recommendation. Avocet Mining: Canaccord Genuity upgrades from sell to hold with an unchanged target price of 112p. BBA Aviation: Citi raises target price from 292p to 335p reiterating a buy recom
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Old Mutual, Standard Chartered, RBS
7th Aug 2013 13:23
Old Mutual was at the top of the leaderboard after reporting a rise in half-year profits on the back of a rise in funds under management (FuM) and client cash flows. Standard Chartered advanced as Investec analysts recommended a 'buy' rating for the stock, citing the UK's "strong second quarter" re
Read moreLondon close: HSBC weighs on markets despite strong data
5th Aug 2013 16:32
Worse-than-expected results from the FTSE 100's largest constituent, HSBC, hit markets hard on Monday though losses were limited by some strong economic data from across the globe. The FTSE 100 finished down 28 points at 6,620. Before HSBC's results were released, services data from the UK, Eurozo
Read moreSector movers: HSBC drags banks lower after H1 disappointment
5th Aug 2013 15:09
Heavy falls by HSBC, the largest listed company by market capitalisation in London, ensured that the banking sector was the worst performer on Monday, despite some impressive gains from smaller peer Lloyds. HSBC, which has a market cap of around £135bn by today's prices, disappointed analysts this
Read moreLondon midday: Markets shrug off strong data as HSBC disappoints
5th Aug 2013 11:45
Economic data came in strong on Monday morning but a poor reaction to results from banking giant HSBC was weighing on markets in London with the FTSE 100 erasing its earlier gains by midday. HSBC, the Footsie's largest company by market capitalisation (around £135bn by today's prices), disappointed
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