Liberum upgrades miners after recent sell-off, but downside risks remain
17th Dec 2014 11:23
After the recent falls across the mining sector, Liberum Capital has upgraded its rating on the category from 'sell' to 'hold', though the broker still sees plenty of downside risks in 2015. Stocks on the FTSE 350 mining index have dropped by 20% this year on the back of macro-economic concerns, a s
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks drop early on as investors await risk events
17th Dec 2014 08:21
UK stocks dropped sharply on Wednesday morning as the sell-off resumed ahead of a busy session for global financial markets. The FTSE 100 was down 0.8% at 6,284 early on. The index had jumped 2.4% the previous session, snapping a six-day losing streak, as West Texas Intermediate crude futures rebou
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Sainsbury hit by Kantar Worldpanel report
16th Dec 2014 14:36
Supermarket J Sainsbury fell on Tuesday after Kantar Worldpanel released a report revealing the group's sales fell 1.8% in the 12 weeks to 7 December while its market share fell. The Big Four grocers continue to be overshadowed by exceptionally strong growth from the discount end of the market, name
Read moreSector movers: Miners lead losses on weak outlook for prices
15th Dec 2014 19:32
A renewed drop in oil prices coincided with a renewed bout of selling in equities across the globe. However, the largest losses were in fact sustained by miners. In a research note e-mailed to clients on Monday morning analysts at Credit Suisse explained the reasoning behind the substantial downgrad
Read moreLondon open: Sell-off continues as UK resource stocks tank
12th Dec 2014 08:42
The dramatic sell-off on the FTSE 100 continued into its fifth straight day on Friday as a weak finish on Wall Street and disappointing data from China hammered already-fragile sentiment on the market. London's benchmark index was down a staggering 1.3% at 6,377 early on, dropping below the 6,400 le
Read moreSector movers: Mining stocks sink as markets extend drop
11th Dec 2014 14:31
Not even the hope of more stimulus in China could help mining stocks on Thursday, as shares in the sector tanked on the back of global slowdown concerns. Miners were bearing the brunt of the fourth day of losses for London's equity market after the news that banks took up fewer-than-expected loans f
Read moreLondon open: Stocks hit by weak data from Japan, China and Germany
8th Dec 2014 09:19
A steeper-than-expected recession in Japan and poor data from China and Germany dampened market sentiment on Monday, with UK stocks starting the week on the back foot. London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.5% lower at 6,712 early on after closing out last week at 6,742.84, its highest close since 21 Novem
Read moreRio Tinto could follow trend and spin-off Alcan, says Citigroup
5th Dec 2014 11:39
Citigroup has said that a potential spin-off of Rio Tinto's Canadian aluminium business could be good for the business. Brazilian mining group Vale announced this week that it is looking to float its base-metals division on the stock market in Toronto to "unlock" value, possibly selling a 30-40% sta
Read moreRio Tinto CEO says Glencore a "poor strategic match"
5th Dec 2014 09:16
Rio Tinto's chief executive Sam Walsh has attempted to ward off a new approach from smaller rival Glencore, but admitted he is not pursuing a major acquisition to beef up its defence from a potential takeover. The mining groups were in discussions in July regarding a potential merger, but Rio decide
Read moreSector movers: Mining and oil stocks drop as ECB holds off on stimulus
4th Dec 2014 15:09
Cyclical sectors such as mining and oil were the worst performers of the day on Thursday as the wider stock market weakened in the absence of stimulus measures from the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB held off from making a move at its meeting, saying instead that it would look at injecting sti
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Travel companies fly higher as miners sink
4th Dec 2014 14:45
Travel tour operator TUI Travel saw its shares rise, as the company met expectations with a 4% rise in annual profits as the company painted a positive outlook for the winter and upcoming summer season ahead of its planned merger with parent group TUI AG. Budget airline Easyjet also flew high aft
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Iron ore miners, Aberdeen Asset Management
2nd Dec 2014 09:27
Iron ore miners may be facing much the same dilemma as OPEC is, when trying to force high-cost producers out of the market. Although plummeting crude prices may force some smaller tight oil producers to stop producing for a time, the well infrastructure and technology, once developed, will remain. I
Read moreLondon midday: Crude stabilises but oil stocks continue to slide
28th Nov 2014 11:43
The UK stock market dropped on Friday as shares in the energy sector dropped after the recent slump in crude on concerns about a global oversupply of oil. Oil producers and energy services stocks were extending losses made the previous session with crude prices set to register their steepest weekly
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 falls as energy stocks extend losses after OPEC meeting
28th Nov 2014 08:41
Despite already having plunged the previous session, stocks in the energy sector were under further selling pressure on Friday in the aftermath of the OPEC meeting, pushing the FTSE 100 firmly into the red. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided on Thursday not to scale back their
Read moreRio Tinto lifts coal reserve estimates in Hunter Valley
28th Nov 2014 07:37
Rio Tinto has significantly increased its estimate for managed thermal coal reserves and resources in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia. After analysing historic data and updating different resource estimation methods, Rio Tinto Coal Australia has lifted its ore reserves estimate in th
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