Friday newspaper round-up: UKFI, Barclays, Bank of Japan...
26th Apr 2013 06:43
The Telegraph says Jim O'Neil, head of the UK Financial Investments (UKFI) which manages the government's investments in RBS and Lloyds, has resigned, "deal[ing] a blow to the government's hopes of selling the stakes in the near future". Barclays Chairman Sir David Walker promised investors that he
Read moreLondon close: Gains erased as US data disappoints
22nd Apr 2013 16:21
After a strong start, the FTSE 100 slumped into the red by the close on Monday afternoon as disappointing data and corporate earnings from the US dampened the positive mood. Nevertheless, markets on the whole gave a rather muted reaction to Friday's move by Fitch to strip the UK of it prized 'AAA'
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Randgold Resources jumps higher
22nd Apr 2013 16:04
Randgold Resources was a strong riser - particularly compared to the rest of its sector - gaining after Blackrock upped its stake in the group to 14.1 per cent, marginally higher than the 14 per cent it previously owned. An increase in risk appetite was benefiting financial stocks today with banki
Read moreSector movers: Banks edge higher ahead of results season
22nd Apr 2013 15:21
Banking stocks were performing well on Monday, rebounding after bearing the brunt of falling risk appetite over the last week. Concerns about the global growth weighed on markets heavily last week after a slowdown in China and cuts to forecasts from the International Monetary Fund dampened the econ
Read moreLondon midday: Banks provide a lift as markets shrug off UK downgrade
22nd Apr 2013 11:20
Markets were making decent gains on Monday morning, shrugging off the news that Fitch had stripped the UK of it prized 'AAA' credit rating, as investors went bargain hunting following some heavy falls the week before. Despite trimming losses after a decent rebound on Friday, the FTSE 100 still fell
Read moreLondon open: Financials lead markets higher early on
22nd Apr 2013 08:16
Equities were making decent gains on Monday morning with financial stocks on the rise in London as markets attempted to claw their way back from heavy losses last week. The FTSE 100 fell a total of 97.8 points last week, losing 1.53% of its value, as concerns about global economic growth and a sell
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
19th Apr 2013 08:47
African Barrick Gold: JP Morgan cuts target price from 290p to 200p, while leaving its underweight rating rating unchanged. Fox Davies reduces target price from 353p to 315p and maintains a hold rating. Westhouse Securities lowers target price from 195p to 180p retaining a neutral rating. Belvoir L
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: BHP Billiton, RBS, Next...
17th Apr 2013 07:04
Mining titan BHP Billiton has reiterated its full-year output targets despite a 'lacklustre' performance across several key businesses in the first quarter, writes the Financial Times. According to a YouGov poll, Royal Bank of Scotland should stay in public hands and not return to the private secto
Read moreLondon close: Resource-heavy FTSE 100 lifted by slowing Chinese inflation
9th Apr 2013 16:37
Slowing inflation in China and a strong start to the US earnings season by Alcoa boosted the UK's resource-heavy FTSE 100 stock index on Tuesday, with miners leading the surge. Meanwhile, a raft of upbeat economic data from closer to the home lifted sentiment in the UK today, including better-than-
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners get boost from Alcoa and Chinese inflation
9th Apr 2013 14:31
Strong results from mining heavyweight Alcoa and slowing inflation in China were lifting resource stocks in London today, with ENRC, Vedanta, Rio Tinto, EVRAZ and Anglo American all making strong gains. The latter's shares were also lifted after the miner reported it would produce three per cent m
Read moreBritain's new FCA regulator probes IT failures at RBS
9th Apr 2013 14:19
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced Tuesday it has launched an investigation into technology failures at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) last year. Britain's new financial watchdog said it has started an enforcement proceeding into the computer problems at the state-backed lender that
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Polymetal rises after strong results
8th Apr 2013 15:28
Precious metals giant Polymetal was a high riser early on after managing to hold back on costs in 2012 despite a strong rise in production. The company also raised its payout ratio to shareholders last year as it reported a 47 per cent jump in adjusted EBITDA. Aberdeen Asset Management was another
Read moreBritain's biggest banks to foot regulation bill
8th Apr 2013 14:41
Britain's biggest banks will be asked to pay more towards the cost of regulating the financial sector under the government's new so-called "twin peaks" system of supervision, Sky News reported Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which took over r
Read moreBroker tips: Banks, Asset managers, Next
5th Apr 2013 10:41
Investec has turned more bullish on global banking giant HSBC, upgrading the stock from 'add' to 'buy', but has retained a clear preference for sector peer Standard Chartered (also rated 'buy'). Analyst Ian Gordon said in a research note on Friday that both HSBC and StanChart are expected to delive
Read moreBroker snap: Investec upgrades HSBC to 'buy', but prefers StanChart
5th Apr 2013 10:28
Investec has turned more bullish on global banking giant HSBC, upgrading the stock from 'add' to 'buy', but has retained a clear preference for sector peer Standard Chartered (also rated 'buy'). Analyst Ian Gordon said in a research note on Friday that both HSBC and StanChart are expected to delive
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