London midday: BT leads market higher
13th May 2010 12:07
London's top stocks are making good gains helped by BT's full-year numbers and a decent showing from the miners. BT is the strongest riser on news that telecoms giant returned to the black in the last quarter and the full year and reported a 6% rise in the dividend. Pre-tax profit hit £1.01bn in th
Read moreSector movers: Banks and miners on the back foot
11th May 2010 13:16
Banks are among the worst performers on a tough day for the markets, most notably part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland. The taxpayer-owned bank has agreed to pay the US government $500m to settle charges it conspired to violate the US Bank Secrecy Act. The Department of Justice said ABN Amro,
Read moreLondon close: Shares slide after election
7th May 2010 16:48
Shares continued sliding on Friday as the European debt crisis rumbled on and after the previous day's election failed to produce a decisive result. Germany's parliament has approved a rescue package for Greece, but traders are still worried that the debt problems could spread to other countries, i
Read moreLondon afternoon: RBS leads retreat
7th May 2010 14:35
The market rally seen towards the end of the morning session fizzled out over lunch as London joined other European markets in retreat. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has moved into line with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and agreed that the Conservative party, which won the most seats in yesterd
Read moreLondon midday: Clegg statement calms markets
7th May 2010 12:10
After initially reacting negatively to the prospect of a hung parliament London's leading shares have rallied after Liberal Democratic party leader Nick Clegg said he is sticking with his pre-election view that the party with the most votes - in this case the Conservatives - should have first crack
Read moreRio Tinto adds voice to Australia tax concerns
6th May 2010 11:41
Rio Tinto has denied media reports that it has shelved projects in Australia in response to proposals for new taxes on miners' profits, but said it is 'reviewing the possible impact' of the tax. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants to slap a 40% tax (Resource Super Profits Tax) on resource projects from
Read moreLondon close: Late rally pares losses
5th May 2010 17:16
Though tomorrow is the day of the UK General Election all eyes were on Greece today, as at least three people were reported dead as violent protests erupted in central Athens against the planned introduction of austerity measures. Stocks came off the bottom towards the end of the session, though th
Read moreLondon afternoon: Greek riots rattle investors
5th May 2010 14:53
Footsie is now nursing a triple digit fall as the downward trend seen in the last hour of the morning session accelerated over lunch as US investors woke up to television footage of Greeks rioting in the streets. Civil unrest in Greece has sent the price of oil and metals into decline with a predic
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks turn south again
5th May 2010 12:19
Having recovered all the way back to last night's closing level shortly after 11:00am the Footsie headed south again for the remainder of the morning as the US futures markets suggested Wall Street will open lower. On a busy day for trading announcements Next is the most conspicuous faller despite
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Miners, G4S, Vitec
5th May 2010 06:51
Australia has just become the world's most-taxed mining economy after introducing a 40% super-tax. It will hit mining groups hard, but earnings were about to expand strongly anyway. Although a setback, there should still be enough profit to go around suggests the Telegraph. By far the most exposed
Read moreLondon close: Miners lead Footsie slide
4th May 2010 16:37
Footsie ended the day deep in the red after a poor start on Wall Street added to already heavy losses in London. The mining sector bore the brunt of the selling. BHP Billiton and Xstrata were initially among the worst fallers after they reacted angrily to the Australian government's plans to introd
Read moreLondon afternoon: Inmarsat bid spec a bright spot
4th May 2010 14:07
Footsie carried on falling over the lunch time session with sentiment taking a further knock from expectations of a lower start on Wall Street. BP is down heavily as the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico shows no sign of abating. It has denied responsibility for the rig explosion that caused the prob
Read moreSector movers: Resource stocks under pressure
4th May 2010 11:41
Miners BHP Billiton and Xstrata have reacted angrily to the Australian government's plans to introduce a new resource rent tax and say the levy may jeopardise future investments. PM Kevin Rudd wants to slap a 40% tax on resource projects from July 2012, which could raise about A$12bn ($11bn) in the
Read moreLondon open: BP drags market lower
4th May 2010 08:47
London has fallen in early dealings with resources stocks under pressure from the Gulf of Mexico disaster and a new Australian tax. BP is down heavily following falls on Wall Street yesterday. It has denied responsibility for the rig explosion that caused the problems, but expects to meet the clean
Read moreLondon close: Weak finish for FTSE 100
30th Apr 2010 16:42
A poor start in the US added to Footsie's woes, sending the leading share index deep into the red by the trade of closing going into the weekend. Mining stocks were a drag on the index with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto lower ahead of the release over the week-end of the Australian government's review
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