London open: Lloyds beats forecasts but markets fall ahead of long weekend
1st May 2015 09:05
London stocks fell on Friday despite a better-than-expected first quarter from Lloyds Banking Group as investors were treading carefully in the absence of trading across Europe. The FTSE 100 was down 0.51% at 6,924.94 early on, with most equity markets on the continent closed for May Day. Analyst C
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: HSBC rockets on domicile review, Astra hit by heartburn rival
24th Apr 2015 13:19
HSBC topped the risers as it launched a review of its UK domicile in light of the changing regulatory landscape. Some media commentators suggested the announcement, carefully timed ahead of the general election, was politically motivated. After receiving some takeover interest in one of its division
Read moreSector movers: Miners in demand as weak China data lifts stimulus hopes
23rd Apr 2015 15:53
It was a case of bad data being good news for the mining sector on Thursday as stocks surged on hopes for further stimulus in China. A HSBC survey said the Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell from 49.6 to a one-year low of 49.2, surprising analysts who had expected no change. Econ
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
22nd Apr 2015 12:33
BHP Billiton: UBS reiterates buy and 1,625p target price. Rio Tinto: Deutsche Bank stays at buy and 4,200p target. Sky: Goldman Sachs maintains neutral and 1,200p target. Associated British Foods: Nomura lifts target to 2,850p from 2,760p and reiterates neutral. ARM Holdings: Exane BNP reiterates
Read moreLondon close: Late rally pushes FTSE higher after choppy session
21st Apr 2015 16:25
UK stocks ended a choppy session in the green as an afternoon rally saw the FTSE 100 erase losses and push back towards its record high. "A good set of European earnings results sent stocks in Europe back towards all-time highs on Tuesday, sustained by ECB bond-buying and the lingering effects of th
Read moreSector movers: Rio Tinto leads miners lower on weak Q1, broker downgrade
21st Apr 2015 14:52
Mining stocks were among the worst performers on Tuesday afternoon as investors booked profits after a strong showing the previous session. Metal producers' shares had surged on Monday following news that China has lowered its reserve requirement ratio by the most since 2008 in an effort to spur ban
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sky rockets on Q3 results, miners and oils stocks lower
21st Apr 2015 13:44
Sky topped the FTSE 100 risers after third-quarter results showed the most growth in 11 years. The broadcaster grew customer numbers 70%, which fed through to a 20% increase in operating profits. Smartphone and tablet microchip designer ARM Holdings surged after beating its own guidance with a 14% j
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
21st Apr 2015 13:18
Tullow Oil: Deutsche Bank reiterates hold and keeps target price at 370p. Tesco: Citi reiterates neutral and 235 target price. BHP Billiton: Barclays reiterates overweight and lifts target to 3,500p from 3,300p. Rio Tinto: Barclays downgrades to equalweight and lower target to 2,850p from 3,350p.
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, Anglo American, SABMiller, Kingfisher
21st Apr 2015 11:28
Mining giants Rio Tinto and Anglo American were under the cosh in London as analysts at Barclays Capital lowered their recommendations on both stocks after slashing their commodity prices forecasts. The broker downgraded its rating on Rio from 'overweight' to 'equal weight', cautioning that the comp
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks erase gains as ongoing Greek debt saga hits sentiment
21st Apr 2015 11:28
After briefly coming close to their intraday record high, UK stocks dropped into the red by Tuesday lunchtime after data showed that the Greek debt saga was weighing on economic confidence in Germany. Heavy falls in the mining sector were also hitting markets, offsetting well-received quarterly earn
Read moreRio and Anglo downgraded as BarCap slashes commodity estimates
21st Apr 2015 09:17
Mining giants Rio Tinto and Anglo American were under the cosh in London as analysts at Barclays Capital slashed their commodity prices forecasts and lowered their recommendations on both shares. While acknowledging that the average institutional investor has very little interest in commodity price
Read moreLondon open: FTSE back near record high as updates from Sky and ARM impress
21st Apr 2015 09:09
UK stocks were renewing their push towards record highs again on Tuesday, helped by well-received results from blue chips Sky and ARM Holdings. The FTSE 100 was up 0.60% at 7,094.78 within the opening hour. The index rose as high as 7,105.13 early on, just shy of its intraday record of 7,119.35 rea
Read moreRio Tinto maintains full-year production guidance
21st Apr 2015 07:09
Australian iron ore miner Rio Tinto will meet its full-year production targets despite lower than expected iron-ore shipments as a result of poor weather and transport delays. The London-based miner increased output of the metal by 12% in the first three months of the year to reach 74.7m tonnes. Th
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start expected ahead of quiet session
21st Apr 2015 06:50
UK stocks are expected to open with small gains on Tuesday as the Footsie resumes its push back towards record highs ahead of a quiet day for economic data. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 13 points higher than Monday's close of 7,052.13. After two straight sessions in the red, news of
Read moreLondon close: Chinese stimulus lifts stocks despite ongoing Greek uncertainty
20th Apr 2015 16:35
Stocks rebounded on Monday after as measures by policymakers in China to boost bank lending helped to repair sentiment after recent losses, despite ongoing uncertainty in Greece. London's FTSE 100 finished the session 0.82% higher at 7,052.13, with mining stocks leading the rise on increased hopes f
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