FTSE 100 movers: Prudential gains on strong profit rise
13th Mar 2013 15:13
Prudential was the strongest riser after posting a 25 per cent increase in its annual operating profits, saying its performance was largely driven by its "sweet-spot" markets including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Food retailer Sainsbury was up on the back of comme
Read moreLondon close: Stocks pare gains ahead of policy decisions
6th Mar 2013 16:51
After a solid rise early on, the FTSE 100 had trimmed gains by the close of trade on Wednesday as investors took profits after stocks hit fresh multi-year highs the day before. Markets across Europe finished mixed this afternoon, slipping from the best levels of the day "as caution once again tempe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Vodafone tops the leader board
6th Mar 2013 15:40
Vodafone surged after Bloomberg last night reported that part-owner Verizon Communications is looking to resolve its relationship with the UK telecoms group. Richard Curr, the Head of Dealing at Prime Markets said this morning that if the stake is sold off, "it will provide the group with the fire
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks hold on to recent gains
6th Mar 2013 11:56
Well-received results from a number of heavyweight stocks and M&A speculation surrounding Vodafone pushed the FTSE 100 firmly into positive territory on Wednesday morning, pushing the index to fresh multi-year highs. The Footsie finished yesterday's session at 6,432, a level not seen since late 200
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: GKN boosted by upgrade
4th Mar 2013 12:45
GKN shares rose into the top spot after Goldman Sachs raised its target price from 195p to 272p and upgraded the stock from sell to neutral. Capita Group followed closed behind after Jefferies raised its target price from 840p to 1,010p and kept a buy recommendation. The business process manager a
Read moreBroker snap: Nomura downgrades Anglo American to reduce
4th Mar 2013 12:01
Markets seem to be getting ahead of themselves with regards to Anglo American, analysts at Nomura write this morning. In particular, optimism regarding the incoming new Chief Executive Officer, Mark Cutifani, on April 3rd, has seen the shares rise to the point where investors are now paying approxi
Read moreLondon close: Strong US data prompts late rally...again
1st Mar 2013 17:13
For a third day in a row, the FTSE 100 index rallied in afternoon trade on the back of strong economic figures from America, as investors temporarily shrugged off concerns about the automatic spending cuts which kick in later today. US President Barack Obama met with congressional leaders this afte
Read moreSector movers: Weak Chinese manufacturing data hits miners
1st Mar 2013 16:31
Mining stocks tanked on Friday after a series of disappointing manufacturing figures dampened risk appetite. The official Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell from 50.4 to 50.1 in February. While this marked the fifth straight month of expansion (shown by figures above the m
Read moreLondon open: Footsie edges higher despite mining weakness
1st Mar 2013 09:02
UK stocks opened broadly higher on Friday morning but a disappointing reading of Chinese manufacturing weighed on the mining sector, limiting gains for the resource-heavy FTSE 100 index. The official Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell from 50.4 to 50.1 in February. While t
Read moreRio Tinto appoints new CFO and streamlines executive committee
28th Feb 2013 07:07
Rio Tinto has appointed Chris Lynch to the role of Chief Financial Officer to succeed Guy Elliott, with effect from April 18th. Lynch joined the Rio Tinto boards as a non-executive director in September 2011. He remains on the boards and will become an Executive Director and member of the Executiv
Read moreTuesday newspaper round-up: Italy, Tesco, Rio Tinto...
26th Feb 2013 06:49
The eurozone's debt crisis strategy was in chaos on Monday night after anti-austerity parties appeared on track to win a majority of seats in the Italian parliament, vastly complicating efforts to forge a government able to carry through EU-imposed reforms. In an earthquake result, the Five Star p
Read moreLondon open: Stocks pull back after Fed questions QE
21st Feb 2013 08:23
After hitting highs not seen since January 2008 yesterday, the FTSE 100 pulled back on Thursday morning as minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting showed that some policy-makers have begun to question current quantitative easing (QE) measures in the States. Stocks were boosted on Wednesday
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: RSA dives after firm unveils dividend cut
20th Feb 2013 15:13
Full-year results from RSA Insurance were largely in line with estimates, with extreme wet weather in the UK and earthquakes in Italy contributing to a 5.9 per cent fall in operating profit. However, shares tanked after the firm unveiled a 33 per cent cut in its annual dividend due to the likelihood
Read moreLondon open: Chinese data weighs on miners
18th Feb 2013 08:56
London equities have begun today's session with the slightest of falls following news that retail sales in China over the Lunar New Year festivities last week rose at their slowest pace in four years, as authorities cracked down on extravagant spending by the public sector. US capital markets will
Read moreSunday share tips: Rio Tinto, Greencoat, Carclo
17th Feb 2013 15:54
Rio Tinto posted its first ever full-year loss of 2.6bn pounds (1.7bn pounds) after writing down 14.4bn dollars of its assets following an M&A spree. The charges were mostly in its aluminium and energy businesses. However, stripping those out profits were better than expected, as was the 15 per cent
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