London midday: Admiral leads the rise ahead of US data
3rd Feb 2012 12:03
Stocks were up at the day's best levels by lunchtime following a subdued start, with insurance outfit Admiral leading the charge. Miners on the other hand, are providing a drag, pulling back from their strong showing yesterday on the back of heightened M&A speculation in the sector. Markets were gi
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat ahead of US data, Admiral jumps
3rd Feb 2012 08:31
London's blue chip stocks were broadly flat in early trading on Friday, with investors cautious ahead of some key non-farm payroll data due out in the US later today. In domestic news, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) predicts that the UK may fall back into recession t
Read moreLondon open: Stocks pull back but Xstrata soars
2nd Feb 2012 08:35
Stocks opened slightly lower on Thursday, pulling back from the +100 point gain for the Footsie yesterday as markets celebrated positive global macroeconomic data with manufacturing indices in the UK, Eurozone, US and China all showing an improvement in January. In other news, ratings agency Standa
Read moreLondon close: Financials surge as macro data lifts sentiment
1st Feb 2012 17:00
- Schroders leads financial stocks higher as risk appetite increases. - Manufacturing data from UK, Europe, US and China well-received. - Greece 'one formal step away' from deal. The Footsie finished with a triple-digit point gain on Wednesday after manufacturing data from across the globe lifted s
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise after Eurozone manufacturing data
1st Feb 2012 11:56
Gains were extended by lunchtime after Eurozone manufacturing data suggested that the region may escape a recession. Financials were putting in a strong performance in London, led by ICAP which was rising over 7% at the midday mark. January's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the Eurozone manufa
Read moreLondon open: ICAP leads strong rise for Footsie
1st Feb 2012 08:23
The Footsie opened in positive territory, rising well above the 5,700 level, after better-than-expected Chinese data and rumours of progress in Greece lifting the mood early on. European markets have opened strongly as investors await Eurozone manufacturing data later this morning. The HSBC China m
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small rise expected in early trading
1st Feb 2012 07:23
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open up 5 points from yesterday's close of 5,682, taking its lead from small gains made in Asia on the back of better-than-expected manufacturing data in China. The two Anglo-Australian giants of the mining sector, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, have been doing
Read moreRio doubles stake in South African smelter as BHP sells up
1st Feb 2012 07:00
Anglo-Australian mining colossus Rio Tinto has taken majority control of South African firm Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) after buying up a stake from fellow mining heavyweight BHP Billiton. BHP has agreed to exercise a put option - a contract to sell shares - agreed with Rio Tinto as part of RBM's r
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall ahead of EU summit
30th Jan 2012 11:55
London's blue chip index had fallen close to its lowest levels of the day by lunchtime ahead of the EU summit in Brussels. Meanwhile, markets were still digesting the downgrade of five Eurozone nations on Friday and the talks between the Greek government and private creditors that are still ongoing.
Read moreMonday broker round-up - UPDATE
30th Jan 2012 08:57
Rio Tinto: Goldman Sachs upgrades from neutral to buy. Whitbread: Credit Suisse downgrades from outperform to neutral, 1,818p target maintained. Weir: Credit Suisse ups target from 2,200p to 2,275p, outperform rating kept. ARM Holdings: Nomura raises target from 570p to 580p, neutral recommendati
Read moreLondon close: US data, Greek talks weigh on FTSE 100
27th Jan 2012 16:26
With economic growth in the world's largest economy surprising to the downside, miners and oil stocks were sold off on Friday, dragging the Footsie near to its lowest levels of the day by the close. Meanwhile, uncertainty in regards to debt-swap talks in Greece continued to weigh on investors' minds
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Kazakhmys leads miners higher
26th Jan 2012 13:42
With the Federal Reserve pledging to do its best to strengthen the US economy last night, the dollar weakened against the euro, sending metals prices higher. As such, the miners were dominating the risers on Thursday afternoon. Kazakhstan-based copper miner Kazakhmys was in the top spot after sayin
Read moreLondon midday: Miners gain after Fed, Polymetal rises on merger rumours
26th Jan 2012 11:50
- Miners surge as Fed pledges low rates. - IIF willing to accept coupon rate of below 4%. - Ireland returns to international bond markets. The Footsie was up 1% by midday with miners leading the advance after the Federal Reserve's move to keep interest rates low last night weakened the dollar and m
Read moreLondon open: Miners jump after Fed pledges low rates
26th Jan 2012 08:33
London's blue chip stocks rose in early trading on Thursday, following on from a surge last night on Wall Street after the Federal Reserve pledged to keep the federal funds rate low until late 2014. Meanwhile, Greece is again in focus as talks resume between private creditors and the government. The
Read moreRio makes its move on Ivanhoe and raises stake to 51%
24th Jan 2012 17:25
Rio Tinto did what many had expected on Tuesday by moving to take a majority stake in Asia Pacific-focused company Ivanhoe Mines. Following the announcement by Ivanhoe last Thursday that it would dispose of its shareholder rights plan (leaving the door wide open for Rio), the UK-listed miner has no
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