London afternoon: Main index little moved
10th Sep 2010 14:39
We're little changed from last night's close as Wall Street opens, with a largely bright financials sector offset by mostly weaker commodity plays. Most banks have done well - Barclays excluded - on hopes that new banking rules announced this weekend will be favourable. Regulators are meeting this
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie flat as mining retreat offsets banks' advance
10th Sep 2010 12:01
On a quiet day on the company news front Footsie is flat, with banks advancing on hopes that new banking rules announced this weekend will be favourable, but miners falling back. Regulators are meeting this weekend to thrash out rules on banks' capital. Royal Bank of Scotland leads the sector on ho
Read moreLondon midday: BP spreads the blame
8th Sep 2010 12:00
It's back to square one for London with the Footsie virtually unchanged at the end of the morning session after early losses were wiped out. News that the US markets look set to open firmer after yesterday's triple-digit fall for the Dow has bolstered confidence this side of the pond. BP edged high
Read moreSector movers: TUI and IHG drag down leisure stocks
10th Aug 2010 15:30
Travel and leisure stocks, particularly those related to holidays, are having a poor day. TUI Travel warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings faltered. Bookings by Britons are down by 2% over the past 12 weeks with the Netherlands down by 3%. This later booking
Read moreLondon midday: Consumer spending fears sink Footsie
10th Aug 2010 12:02
Concern about consumer spending has pulled the rug from under Footsie after a profit warning from tour operator TUI and weak retail sales figures. TUI Travel warned profits this year will be at the low end of forecasts after UK bookings faltered. Bookings by Britons are down by 2% over the past 12
Read moreSunday tips round-up: J Sainsbury, Rio Tinto, Aviva...
8th Aug 2010 09:03
The economic outlook is uncertain, but whatever the scenario, people still have to eat. Sainsbury's has become increasingly popular with consumers, the shares at 347p offer a decent 4.4% yield and there is always the possibility of a takeover from the Qatar Investment Authority, which bid unsucce
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners help to hold up index
6th Aug 2010 14:58
Footsie is barely changed on the day despite a sharp fall after the publication of disappointing US job figures. Mining companies make up five out of the 10 best performers. Exane BNP Paribas has upgraded Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto. Lonmin is the biggest faller because of a dispute over prospecting r
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, PartyGaming, Trinity Mirror
6th Aug 2010 12:37
Yesterday's profit from Rio Tinto was a record and better than expected, but the shares aren't trading far from where they were at February's finals, too low for Charles Stanley. The miner made US$5.8bn in the six months to 30 June, up from £2.6bn in the same period last year on sales of $26.8bn co
Read moreBroker snap: Rio Tinto finds support
6th Aug 2010 11:54
Yesterday's profit from Rio Tinto was a record and better than expected, but the shares aren't trading far from where they were at February's finals, too low for Charles Stanley. The miner made US$5.8bn in the six months to 30 June, up from £2.6bn in the same period last year on sales of $26.8bn co
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Rio Tinto, Randgold Resources, Schroders
6th Aug 2010 06:38
Rio Tinto's must rate as one of the most spectacular debt-reduction strategies of modern times and leaves the miner with gearing of 20%. The restructuring should give investors renewed confidence in Rio's balance sheet but, more importantly, it will enable the miner to fund future growth projects.
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes lower
5th Aug 2010 16:56
Blue chips closed lower on a mixed day for company results. Insurers rose on the back of figures from Aviva and RSA, but banks slipped back on Barclays' numbers. Disappointing unemployment data from the US also undermined confidence, while the decision from the Bank of England and ECB to keep inter
Read moreLondon afternoon: Insurers in demand
5th Aug 2010 14:23
Company results have divided opinion in the market today leaving the FTSE 100 in a mixed-up mood, while second-liners make decisive headway. Insurers are doing their bit to push the market higher with Aviva and RSA Insurance both firmer after releasing figures. Aviva reported a better-than-expect
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie stays strong after rally
5th Aug 2010 12:32
Footsie seems to have stabilised in positive territory amid a mixed reception for today's deluge of company updates. There were no surprises from the Bank of England today as its Monetary Policy Committee kept rates on hold at 0.5%. Insurer Aviva is currently the best performer after it reported a
Read moreLondon open: Shares drop amid flood of results
5th Aug 2010 08:20
London's blue chips are slightly lower as investors consider a mixed bag of corporate results on what is set to be one of the busiest days of the year. Cobham is leading the fallers, down more than 6%, after the defence and aerospace products group saw pre-tax profits fall in the half year to June
Read moreRio Tinto posts record profit
5th Aug 2010 07:32
Mining giant Rio Tinto posted a record 125% jump in half year earnings and said it looks to the future with confidence. In a separate statement, the group said it received a binding offer from funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management and the Fonds Stratégique d'Investissement (FSI) to buy a
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