London close: Footsie scuppered by Tesco
13th Jan 2011 16:51
London struggled all day after a grim performance by supermarket Tesco and disappointing US unemployment data in the afternoon. The Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates at 0.5% and the asset purchase programme unchanged was as expected. US shares fell back, with the Dow down 14 point
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie extends losses
13th Jan 2011 15:38
A weak start on Wall Street and grim performance by supermarket Tesco is keeping London firmly in the red Thursday. Disappointing weekly jobs data in the US scuppered any chance UK blue chips had of turning positive, while the Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates at 0.5% and the asset
Read moreLondon midday: Shares little changed
13th Jan 2011 12:01
Today's stream of updates from the retail sector has failed to give the top share index much of a jolt in either direction. The Bank of England left interest rates at 0.5% and the asset purchase programme unchanged, as expected. Tesco falls after the snow and ice meant UK like for like sales were
Read moreLondon open: Retailers move both ways after updates
13th Jan 2011 08:31
The top share index is little changed in early dealings though there are some notable movers in both directions, particularly in the retail sector. Tesco falls after the snow and ice meant UK like for like sales were weaker than expected and lagged rivals. Like for like sales in the UK for the six
Read moreAustralia flooding hits Rio Tinto aluminium ops
13th Jan 2011 07:05
The flooding in Queensland, Australia that has caused widespread disruption to Rio Tinto's coal operations has also hit its aluminium activities, the mining giant has reported. It said its aluminium arm Rio Tinto Alcan has experienced a force majeure event, impacting the supply of the aluminium fro
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stuck lower
10th Jan 2011 12:11
Shares remain rooted in negative territory in spite of a big jump from artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew following reports of an offer from Johnson & Johnson. Miners are holding back the top share index. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal
Read moreLondon open: Poor start to week
10th Jan 2011 08:23
A fresh round of takeover speculation and well-received numbers from Morrisons hasn't been enough to cancel losses across the mining sector. Artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew rallied Monday following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christma
Read moreBroker tips for 2011
7th Jan 2011 15:37
Analysts are predicting a bullish year for the UK market on hopes a global economic recovery will kick in. Here are a few of the companies brokers think will lead the advance. Standard Life predicts the FTSE 100, which has risen around 25% since July, could rise by a further 15% to 6,900 by the end
Read moreSteel prices fear after Queensland floods
4th Jan 2011 14:21
Catastrophic floods hitting Queensland in Australia could have a long-term impact on the global steel industry, a leading politician warned today. Queensland state premier Anna Bligh issued the warning after three-quarters of the state's coking coal fields shut down because of the unprecedented wet
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start to New Year's Eve
31st Dec 2010 09:13
Shares are little changed in early dealings on what looks set to be an uneventful day's trading ahead of the New Year break. Miners are on the back foot again, with Rio Tinto and its fellow Australian iron ore specialist BHP Billiton among the fallers. However Mexican silver miner Fresnillo is hig
Read moreLondon close: Footsie winds down as 2011 nears
30th Dec 2010 16:55
London closed shy of the 6,000 mark after a late dip in very light volumes with little for either buyers or sellers to get their teeth into. Fresnillo was an exception thanks to another strong day on the metals exchanges as silver hit a new 30-year high. Copper traded above $9,500 per tonne on the
Read moreLondon midday: Traders go 'cold turkey' on shares
30th Dec 2010 12:23
Traders are regarding UK shares with all the enthusiasm of someone being offered another round of cold turkey sandwiches, as the lull between Christmas and New Year continues. Fallers outnumber risers by around two to one among Footsie constituents, with miners reflecting the mixed picture. Silver
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Strikes, BP, Italy...
30th Dec 2010 08:35
Union bosses are plotting mass strikes at around the time of the royal wedding. The most senior figures in the movement are to meet early in the new year at a TUC meeting aimed at delivering co-ordinated mass industrial action in the spring against government cuts. Mark Serwotka, the leader of the
Read moreRio Tinto hit by Australian floods
29th Dec 2010 10:01
Severe flooding in Queensland, Australia has prompted Rio Tinto to declare force majeure on contracts from its coal mines at Hail Creek, Kestrel, Blair Athol and Clermont in Queensland's Bowen Basin. "The severe monsoonal rain, on top of the significant rainfalls in November and December, has had
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: JJB Sports, Euro crisis, John Lewis...
24th Dec 2010 06:35
JJB Sports, the beleaguered sports retailer, is poised to announce a £30m fund-raising and the departure of its chairman, to safeguard its future. It is thought that big shareholders, including Harris Associates and the foundation of Bill Gates, are backing the call. John Clare, the chairman, will
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