London close: FTSE 100 near seven-week high
15th Jul 2013 16:28
Decent gains in the financial sector boosted the FTSE 100 on Monday as markets welcomed in-line growth figures from China and record highs on Wall Street. The FTSE 100 finished 41 points higher at 6,586 today; the last time it closed higher was on May 30th when it reached 6,657. While the index cl
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RBS, Lloyds lead risers
15th Jul 2013 13:20
UK banks were the top risers on Monday as a report said Britain's economy will grow faster this year than previously forecast. The Ernst & Young Item Club said the economy will expand 1.1 per cent this year, compared to an April estimate of 0.6 per cent. Royal Bank of Scotland led the FTSE 100 race
Read moreLondon midday: Banks, miners provide a lift after China data
15th Jul 2013 11:42
Cyclical stocks welcomed in-line gross domestic product (GDP) figures from China on Monday morning with the FTSE 100 nearly hitting seven-week highs early on. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level; the last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. Gains
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 near seven-week high after China data
15th Jul 2013 08:24
Worries about a sharp slowdown in China temporarily eased on Monday morning, pushing the FTSE 100 to levels not seen in nearly seven weeks. London's benchmark index started the new week trading near the 6,600 level early on. The last time the FTSE 100 closed higher was on May 30th. "European marke
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aberdeen, Resolution lead financials higher
12th Jul 2013 14:08
Financial stocks were performing well on Friday with asset manager Aberdeen and insurance group Resolution leading the way after positive comments from analysts. UBS reiterated its 'buy' rating for Aberdeen and added the stock to its 'most preferred' list, saying that the recent share price falls h
Read moreBlackRock to advise on RBS assets
12th Jul 2013 12:47
BlackRock has been appointed by Britain's finance ministry to assess Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for the possible break-up of the state-backed lender into a good bank and bad bank. The risk management company will join investment bank Rothschild ROT.UL and lawyers Slaughter & May in providing spec
Read moreLondon midday: Markets extend gains despite concerns over China
12th Jul 2013 12:11
Strong gains in the financial sectors were lifting markets higher on Friday despite concerns over a slowdown in China, as investors continued to focus on dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Stock futures on Wall Street were pointing to a positive start on Friday, extending g
Read moreLondon open: Markets extend gains after record highs on Wall Street
12th Jul 2013 08:51
Markets looked set to end the week on a high note with financial stocks lifting the FTSE 100 higher in early trading on Friday, as sentiment was buoyed by record highs on Wall Street last night. Both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 indices closed at their highest ever levels on Thursday, while the Nasdaq
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drag markets lower after Chinese data
10th Jul 2013 11:33
The FTSE 100 had slipped into the red on Wednesday morning with markets turning cautious ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve, hoping for indications of when the central bank will begin to taper stimulus. Disappointing trade figures from China were also weighing on sentiment today, pressur
Read moreMoody's upgrades UK banking sector
10th Jul 2013 10:24
Moody's has changed its outlook on the UK banking system to 'stable' from 'negative' to reflect Britain's improved economic prospects. The ratings agency said the more stable UK economy had improved the outlook for borrowers being able to repay debts. There were also encouraging signs for profitabi
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher ahead of FOMC minutes
10th Jul 2013 08:20
The FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday morning, though gains were only slight as investors turned cautious ahead of a statement from the Federal Reserve, hoping for indications of when the central bank will begin to taper stimulus. Following the heavy sell-off in June, the strong rebound in market
Read moreLondon close: Stocks rise as investors shrug off IMF growth downgrade
9th Jul 2013 16:41
The FTSE 100 put in a decent performance on Tuesday, jumping around one per cent as investors shrugged off gloomy comments from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and instead focused on progress in Greece and a strong start to US corporate earnings season. London's benchmark index finished the d
Read moreBroker snap: Goldman Sachs and Investec go head-to-head over RBS
9th Jul 2013 15:02
Analysts at Investec and Goldman Sachs now agree that shares of Royal Bank of Scotland [RBS] are a buy, but differ markedly on whether a hypothetical break-up of the lender into a so-called good bank and a bad bank is the correct way to proceed. Thus, the former today upgraded its view on the stoc
Read moreLondon midday: Banks, miners lead markets higher
9th Jul 2013 11:30
Improved appetite for risk helped equities in the banking and mining sectors on Tuesday morning, pushing the FTSE 100 to levels not seen in over a month. London's benchmark index was trading at around 6,500 this morning, a mark not reached since the start of June when markets were beginning to pric
Read moreLondon open: Miners give markets a boost
9th Jul 2013 08:29
Strong gains from mining and banking stocks ensured a strong open for the FTSE 100 on Tuesday morning as sentiment was lifted by improving hopes for the US economy and a bailout deal in Greece. London's benchmark index opened over one per cent higher early on advancing past 6,500, a level not seen
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