London afternoon: Footsie hovers around 6,000
10th Feb 2011 15:18
Footsie has slumped below 6,000 with insurers and miners featuring prominently among the laggards. Miner Rio Tinto is lower even though it had plenty to please shareholders, with record full-year profits, a $5bn share buyback and 20% increase in the dividend. The Anglo-Australian group made a net
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower after Bank holds rates
10th Feb 2011 12:29
Shares remain firmly in the red following the Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates and quantitative easing unchanged. The Bank has kept interest rates on hold at a record low of 0.5% Mixed results have added to the unsettled mood. Drinks giant Diageo raised revenues in the six months
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set for modest retreat
10th Feb 2011 07:41
It's looking like a weaker start for London Thursday as small gains in the US overnight fail to offset losses in the Far East. Engine maker Rolls-Royce made slightly more money than expected in 2010 and predicts good profit growth this year despite government spending squeezing customers in the def
Read moreRecord numbers for Rolls-Royce
10th Feb 2011 06:57
Engine maker Rolls-Royce made slightly more money than expected in 2010 and predicts "good profit growth" this year despite cuts in UK defence spending. Underlying profit before tax rose 4% to £955m for the 12 months on underlying revenue up 7% to £10.9bn. Analysts were after a profit of around £9
Read moreThursday preview: BoE rate decision, Shire, Diageo
9th Feb 2011 15:03
It is a big day for company results but even equity traders will be keeping an ear cocked for the Bank of England's announcement of its interest rate decision. Though two members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for a rate increase last month, up from just one the month before, the sma
Read moreLondon close: No US jobs lift for FTSE 100
4th Feb 2011 16:40
The top share index finished the week just below 6,000 points after a sluggish day's trading. Traders were unsure how to react to US jobs data. Nonfarm payrolls rose just 36,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday, well below forecasts of at least 140,000. On the bright side, December's nu
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie recovers from US jobs jolt
4th Feb 2011 14:40
The Footsie kept its head above 6,000 over the lunchtime period despite a negative reaction to US jobless figures at 1:30. Nonfarm payrolls rose just 36,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday, well below forecasts of at least 140,000. On the bright side, December's number was revised up t
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 in the blue
4th Feb 2011 12:23
The FTSE 100 is still hovering a few points in positive territory on a fairly quiet day on the company news front. Utilities are one bright spot, with United Utilities, Severn Trent and International Power all higher. Wm Morrison has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'neutral' by UBS, which suggests th
Read moreLondon open: Quiet start for blue chips
4th Feb 2011 08:47
Footsie is subdued with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and January non-farm payrolls data from the US due out this afternoon. Utilities are one bright spot, with United Utilities, Severn Trent and International Power all higher. Wm Morrison has been upgraded to 'buy' from 'neutral
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to have another crack at 6,000
4th Feb 2011 07:31
The Footsie looks set to make another assault on the 6,000 barrier, with City traders predicting the blue-chip index will open on or around 6,000, having closed at 5,983 last night. Trade might be subdued, however, with the company results schedule a bit threadbare and with investors waiting on the
Read moreRolls-Royce wins ferries order
4th Feb 2011 07:19
Power systems developer Rolls-Royce has signed a £20m contract to supply engines and propulsion equipment for four gas-fuelled ferries to be built for the Norwegian operator Torghatten Nord. Rolls-Royce said the new vessels will be the first to feature the company's Hybrid Shaft Generator (HSG), wh
Read moreASOS director banks £2.8m
21st Jan 2011 16:42
Jon Kamaluddin, the international director of AIM-quoted online fashion retailer ASOS, has secured a near-£2.8m gain by exercising options and selling the shares immediately. Kamaluddin exercised options over 80,000 shares at 43.5p a share and 96,995 shares at 58.25p a share. That is a total cost
Read moreLondon close: China concerns sink Footsie
20th Jan 2011 16:31
Blue chips closed down more than 100 points as hefty losses in the mining sector dragged the whole index down. The index fell below 5,900 points for the first time this year as strong growth in China stoked speculation of an interest rate rise to cool the economy and cap inflation. Miners are heav
Read moreLondon afternoon: Blue chip index down 1.5%
20th Jan 2011 15:01
The leading index is down nearly 100 points as hefty losses in the mining sector continue to damage sentiment. The top share index has fallen below 5,900 points for the first time this year as the impact of snow casts a shadow over a raft of trading updates and strong growth in China stokes specula
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 hits 2011 low
20th Jan 2011 12:04
The top share index has fallen below 5,900 points for the first time this year as the impact of snow casts a shadow over a raft of trading updates and strong growth in China stokes speculation of fiscal tightening. China's economy grew by 10.3% in 2010, ahead of expectations after a strong final qu
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