London close: Shares buoyant as updates impress
18th Jan 2011 16:42
The top share index closed near its highs, helped in part by well-received company updates. Burberry was in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group, with revenue up by 30% and profits now set to hit the top
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains get trimmed
18th Jan 2011 14:35
Share prices came off the boil over the lunch time session though Footsie remains firmly in the red, as things continue to look rosier in the eurozone. Burberry is in fashion after bumper demand for outdoor coats and other luxury accessories meant a storming third quarter for the luxury goods group
Read moreLondon midday: Shares keep gains
18th Jan 2011 12:17
The top share index remains buoyant as mining sector strength and company updates attract buyers. Miners are strong led by Vedanta, Kazakhmys and ENRC.Rio Tinto's global iron ore operations set a new quarterly production record in the final three months of 2010. The group produced 65m tonnes in the
Read moreLondon open: Footsie back over 6,000
18th Jan 2011 08:49
Blue chips have rallied following a strong performance in Asia this morning, renewed demand for the miners and some good trading updates. Brewer SABMiller helped more drinkers in Africa and China quench their thirst during the third quarter, sending organic lager volumes up 3%. The owner of Peroni
Read moreRio Tinto iron ore production hits record levels
18th Jan 2011 07:38
Mining giant Rio Tinto's global iron ore operations set a new quarterly production record in the final three months of 2010. The group produced 65m tonnes in the final quarter of last year, up from 50m tonnes the year before, taking 2010 production up to a record 239m tonnes, versus 185m tonnes in
Read moreLondon 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
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