FTSE 250 movers: Spectris surges ahead
25th Feb 2011 16:01
There are some big risers on the FTSE 250 today, led by instruments group Spectris which is up 13% after doubling profits in 2010. Following suit with strong full-year figures is textile rental group Berendsen and bingo hall and casino operator Rank. Rightmove was also among the risers despite rev
Read moreLondon afternoon: Lloyds left behind
25th Feb 2011 14:15
Share prices moved sideways over the lunch time session, but at least they were moving; the London Stock Exchange, which recently switched over to a new computer system, suffered an embarrassing glitch which resulted in the exchange shutting down for most of the morning. Shares have been lifted by
Read moreRank boosted by casino arm
25th Feb 2011 09:47
A strong performance from its Grosvenor Casino business helped bingo hall and casino operator Rank hit the top end of forecasts last year, though business has been more mixed in 2011. Profits in 2010 rose to £55.2m from £48.5m, with all four of its business showing an improvement. Group revenue ros
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 hits new highs
21st Dec 2010 16:36
The leading share index closed just off its highest levels since the first half of 2008, before the global economic crash, after banks and miners led another day of gains. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Stocks hold off bad weather
21st Dec 2010 15:15
The market has held on to early gains led by paper and packaging group Mondi and information technology services firm Computacenter. Centamin Egypt continues to rise after the results of the Sukari project scoping study showed that the gold miner can more than double the capacity of its process pla
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still going strong
21st Dec 2010 15:12
Footsie is still going strong after a decent start on Wall Street. The 6,000 point mark - not seen since the first half of 2008 - is in sight. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such as India's Vedanta and Mexic
Read moreLondon midday: Banks and miners buoy Footsie
21st Dec 2010 12:08
The FTSE 100 remains well above the 5,900 mark, with miners and banks moving higher in tandem once again. With copper prices at a record in London on hopes that strength in the US will help sustain global economic growth, miners such as India's Vedanta and Mexican silver specialist Fresnillo are go
Read moreLondon open: Footsie at 30-month high
21st Dec 2010 08:53
London has hit a new 30-month high on a partial recovery on Wall Street overnight and strong performance in Asia this morning. Banks are leading the way, with good gains for Barclays, RBS and Lloyds this morning. Reports, since played down, that Business secretary Vince Cable could walk away from t
Read moreLondon close: Footsie clings to lead
9th Dec 2010 16:40
A weak morning session on Wall Street did London no favours Thursday, although the big banks helped the leading index to only its second close above 5,800 in over three weeks. Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland were top of the pile. HSBC also did well, but fellow Asia-focused player Stand
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks help index advance
9th Dec 2010 14:42
A mostly better banking sector, gains for some of the mining heavyweights and a decent start on Wall Street are offsetting losses among the big retailers. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are going well following a good session in overseas markets, though Asia-focused Standard Chartered
Read moreLondon midday: Shares steady as Bank holds rates
9th Dec 2010 12:13
The midday announcement that interest rates and quantitative easing will remain unchanged surprised no one and shares remain little changed. Banks and miners are going well. Platinum specialist Lonmin, copper miners Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and ENRC are also in demand, as are the Australian iron ore
Read moreRank sees top end earnings as casinos shine
9th Dec 2010 07:59
Casino and bingo hall operator Rank sees full-year earnings coming in at the top end of analysts' expectations of between 9.5p and 9.8p after a strong performance from Grosvenor Casinos. Across the group, like-for-like revenues in the nine weeks to 5 December were up by 3% from the same period the
Read moreLondon close: Footsie closes on low note
7th Oct 2010 16:52
Footsie turned down in the afternoon session despite better than expected US jobs and retail sales figures. US shares did not respond to the economic data and by midday the Dow was showing strongly red. In Europe, interest rates were left on hold by both the Bank of England and European Central ba
Read moreLondon afternoon: BoNY-M stalking Man
7th Oct 2010 14:37
Better than expected US jobless figures have given the UK market a lift, with the Footsie now knocking on the door of 5700. Mining stocks are, by and large, still refusing the join the party. Copper miners Kazakhmys and Antofagasta lead the sector lower. Indian miner Vedanta is holding up though
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Uphill struggle for Halfords
7th Oct 2010 14:10
Halfords is back-pedalling today after the car parts and bicycle retailer said like for like sales fell 5.8% during the second quarter following a 4.5% drop at the retail business and 1.5% decline at Autocentres. Shares in Victrex have melted away despite the fast growing plastics group's trading
Read more