FTSE 100 movers: Miners on the march
23rd Dec 2009 12:27
Miners are among the top risers, including Rio Tinto, which has accepted a $2.025bn offer for its Alcan Packaging pharmaceutical, tobacco and food divisions from the packaging group Amcor as it continues its programme of asset sales to ease its debt pile. Kazakh pair ENRC and Kazakhmys are the top
Read moreLondon midday: M&A activity keeps shares bubbling
23rd Dec 2009 12:14
The FTSE 100 index hit a 52-week high in the morning session as the pre-Christmas advance continued. Bank of England policymakers voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.5% and their programme of quantitative easing (QE) at £200bn when they met earlier this month, it emerged today. Mining gi
Read moreLondon open: Good run continues
23rd Dec 2009 08:49
Footsie has continued its strong run ahead of the Christmas break, though trading is light with news slowing to a trickle. The release of the minutes from the most recent meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee will have the usual suspects poring over the statement searching for
Read moreSector movers: Balfour Beatty builds gains
23rd Dec 2009 08:39
Balfour Beatty helps lift the construction and materials sector higher after the support services contracting firm said it has won a facilities management contract from defence technology outfit QinetiQ. The seven year contract has a base-line value of £15m per annum, and will be supplemented with
Read moreLondon pre-open: More gains expected
23rd Dec 2009 07:35
Footsie is expect to notch up more gains as it continues its strong run ahead of the Christmas break. The release of the minutes from the most recent meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will have the usual suspects poring over the statement searching for clues to future
Read moreRio accepts Alcan Packaging offer
23rd Dec 2009 07:06
Mining giant Rio Tinto has accepted a $2.025bn offer for its Alcan Packaging pharmaceutical, tobacco and food divisions from the packaging group Amcor as it continues its programme of asset sales to ease its debt pile. The proposed transaction, which Rio received in August, has been cleared by the
Read moreRio awards $200m deal to indigenous JV
18th Dec 2009 07:34
Rio Tinto has awarded a new mining contract in its Pilbara iron ore operations to a joint venture between native title holders the Eastern Guruma and mining services company NRW. The group said the $200m deal to build, mine and transport iron ore from Rio Tinto's Western Turner Syncline deposit is
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, Xstrata, Drax, Game
15th Dec 2009 12:41
Strong demand from China and restocking in 2010 could lead to the most resource intense recovery since the 1970s, according to one broker. UBS says companies have cannibalised 15% of a year's supply of base metals out of the supply chain in 2009, and will have to return to buying that material agai
Read moreBroker snap: Miners to benefit from 'resources squeeze'
15th Dec 2009 12:39
Strong demand from China and restocking in 2010 could lead to the most resource intense recovery since the 1970s, according to one broker. UBS says companies have cannibalised 15% of a year's supply of base metals out of the supply chain in 2009, and will have to return to buying that material agai
Read moreLondon midday: Steady gains for Footsie
11th Dec 2009 12:19
London had has a good morning with mining stocks helping Footsie post gains as metals prices rally following some strong economic data from China. Industrial production growth in China rose again in November to hit 19.1% year-on-year. It is fastest pace of growth in industrial production since Jun
Read moreLondon open: Miners lead Footsie higher
11th Dec 2009 08:45
London's leading shares have opened higher with miners boosted by industrial growth figures coming out of China. Industrial production growth in China rose again in November to hit 19.1% year-on-year. It is fastest pace of growth in industrial production since June 2007. Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto and Xs
Read moreLondon midday: Banks lead rally
10th Dec 2009 12:34
Financial stocks are driving the market higher, with banks and insurers featuring prominently among the best performers. In the banking sector RBS, Lloyds and Barclays rack up the best gains while among insurers Standard Life, Legal & General and RSA are to the fore. Property stocks, however, are
Read moreSector movers: Construction and materials move higher
10th Dec 2009 10:46
Industrial fabric maker Low & Bonar is leading the construction and materials sector higher after it said second half profit is expected to be materially better than the first half and in line with company expectations. Trading since the interim statement of 19 October has remained at anticipated l
Read moreLondon open: Shares start down
10th Dec 2009 08:15
London's top stocks are slightly lower in early dealings Thursday morning despite progress from US blue chips last night. United Utilities is leading the fallers following news that its chief financial officer Tim Weller is to jump ship to take over the CFO role at the Cable & Wireless division, Ca
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Shanks
8th Dec 2009 06:36
The fundamentals for both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto look good now their iron ore tie-up in Australia has finally happened. Spot iron ore prices are currently around one-third higher than contract prices, indicating the latter will move in line, and Chinese steel production continues at high level
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