London close: Overseas concerns sink Footsie
25th Feb 2010 16:28
Blue chips closed sharply lower as fears about Greece resurfaced and US dole claimant figures were worse than expected. On a busy day for big company results RBS hogged the headlines. The part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable loss narrow markedly in 2009 with fourth quarter impairments 5%
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie heads south
25th Feb 2010 14:23
The Footsie sank below last night's closing level over the lunch time session, weighed down by weak miners. On a busy day for big company results RBS continues to hog the headlines. Though off the top, the share price is still sharply higher after the part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie flatlines
25th Feb 2010 11:45
London's top stocks have retreated from the gains sparked by Royal Bank of Scotland's numbers. RBS shares are up by more than 6% after the part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable loss narrow markedly in 2009 with fourth quarter impairments 5% lower than the third quarter. Net attributabl
Read moreLondon open: Miners offset RBS rally
25th Feb 2010 08:12
London's top stocks opened lower despite a set of despite figures from RBS suggesting there is light at the end of the tunnel for the bank. The drop comes even though Royal Bank of Scotland's shares jumped by more than 6% after the open. The part-nationalised bank saw its net attributable loss na
Read moreLondon close: Footsie suffers lack of confidence
23rd Feb 2010 16:21
A terrible report on US consumer confidence sent Wall Street spiralling lower, dragging London's leading index deep into the red late on. UK shares started well enough, but weakened steadily through the morning and spent much of the afternoon dipping in and out of negative territory until the US da
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks drift lower
23rd Feb 2010 15:16
A weak opening on Wall Street has dragged Footsie lower, though the number of fallers among the blue-chip index's constituents barely outnumbers the risers. Wolseley is leading the risers, after surprising the market with an unscheduled trading update. The building supplies group said it expects p
Read moreLondon midday: Leading shares mixed
23rd Feb 2010 12:13
For the second day in succession the FTSE 100 has turned lower after a moderately bright start. Comments on the fragility of the UK economy from Bank of England governor Mervyn King have given investors pause for thought. King, appearing before a parliamentary committee, said: 'There have been some
Read moreLondon open: Shares start strongly
23rd Feb 2010 08:38
Shares have started strongly as company updates are given a warm reception. Shares in Wolseley jumped after the building supplies group said it expects profits for the year to 31 July 2010 to exceed analysts' expectations of £326m. However, it said the better than expected earnings will be due to
Read moreRio unveils boring partners
23rd Feb 2010 08:33
Mining giant Rio Tinto has selected three more partners to work with it on its heavily automated ‘Mine of the Future’ programme. Aker Wirth, the equipment supplier focused on the resources industry, and power tools and assembly systems outfit Atlas Copco will individually work with Rio Tinto to dev
Read moreThursday Preview: Diageo, Rio Tinto, Smith & Nephew
10th Feb 2010 17:19
With the results from the major oil companies behind us, focus tomorrow will be on the producer of a different kind of 'black stuff', Guinness owner Diageo. Nomura is expecting the half-year report to be positive in tone, with the drinks brands giant, which also owns a wide range of spirits, guidin
Read moreLondon close: Third day of gains
2nd Feb 2010 16:39
A strong start in the US helped London rise for the third day in a row and finish at its highest in over a week, with commodity plays the pick of the bunch. Investors piled into miners as metal prices took off and brokers backed a further recovery in share prices. Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC)
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks in consolidation mode
2nd Feb 2010 13:57
Leading shares drifted sideways over the lunchtime session, leaving the Footsie in the blue, largely thanks to the strength of miners, which are getting lots of love from brokers. Eurasian Natural Resources (ENRC), Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto, Lonmin, Xstrata and Anglo American are the best performers
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BP gets a beating
2nd Feb 2010 13:11
BP shares are main sufferers on fourth quarter results that failed to hit market forecasts, but not all brokers are dismayed. Charles Stanley said the figures confirmed the difficult trading in the global refining industry but the operating performance remains good and cash flow performance encoura
Read moreSector movers: BP weighs on oil sector
2nd Feb 2010 11:44
The oil sector falls back after BP's fourth quarter results failed to meet expectations. Underlying replacement cost profit in the fourth quarter was up 70% on a year earlier at $4.38bn, but fell short of analysts' forecasts of around $4.7bn. Recovery in the major economies of the US and Europe is
Read moreRio Tinto completes Alcan sale
2nd Feb 2010 07:50
Miner Rio Tinto has completed the sale of its Alcan packaging business to Australian packaging firm Amcor for $1.95bn. The sale was announced last year as part of Rio's attempt to lower its debt burden following the £38.1m takeover of Canadian aluminium producer Alcan in 2007, which came ahead of
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