London close: Blue chips slip lower
16th Oct 2009 16:50
London's blue chips closed lower as investors used a 100 point plus fall for the Dow as an excuse to take profits. Many of the major commodity plays, including Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Anglo American had enjoyed gains in early deals, but investors lost interest late morning. Oil plays BP, Royal Dutc
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks remain lower
16th Oct 2009 14:54
London's blue chips are still in the red in midday dealings after the Dow dropped more than 100 points in the US. Many of the major commodity plays, including Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Anglo American had enjoyed gains in early deals, but investors lost interest late morning. Oil plays BP, Royal Dutch
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie gains evaporate
16th Oct 2009 12:07
London is back where it finished yesterday's session as a sell-off in the mining sector on weaker metal prices gathered pace near lunchtime. Many of the major commodity plays, including Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Anglo American had enjoyed gains in early deals, but investors lost interest late morning.
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: National Express, Goldman Sachs, Lloyds
16th Oct 2009 06:17
The Spanish-led consortium bidding for National Express is set to withdraw its £765m takeover offer for the bus and rail operator, dealing a blow to the company's biggest shareholder. CVC, the private equity firm, and the Cosmen family, which owns an 18.5% stake, had been due to finish due diligenc
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips falter after recent strength
15th Oct 2009 16:38
London closed lower as bumper profits at US investment bank Goldman Sachs failed to spark Wall Street, which has retreated from the 10,000 mark hit last night. Goldman Sachs reported quarterly earnings per share of $5.25 versus the $4.24 predicted. Revenue of $12.37bn was much better than the $11.0
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks stuck in red
15th Oct 2009 15:13
Bumper profits at US investment bank Goldman Sachs have failed to ignite fresh buying interest on Wall Street, leaving London weaker as resource plays struggle. Goldman Sachs pitched in with forecast-busting third quarter numbers, but that's not been enough to extend the Dow's gains above 10,000. T
Read moreLondon midday: Sainsbury's soars on Qatar rumours
15th Oct 2009 12:12
J Sainsbury is the stand-out riser so far on talk that the Qatar investors in the supermarket are looking to build on their current 26% stake, but it is no more than rumours so far. Otherwise Footsie is marking time, but that could change after bumper figures from Goldman Sachs. The banking giant r
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Qatari talk lifts Sainsbury's
15th Oct 2009 10:33
Supermarket giant J Sainsbury was the star performer on an otherwise dull day for Footsie on rumours that sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) was considering another bid for the supermarket group. The QIA dropped a proposed 600p per share, or £10.2bn, bid for Sainsbury's in Nove
Read moreLondon close: Sainsbury leads retreat
7th Oct 2009 17:03
After yesterday's 2.26% gain on the Footsie the blue-chip index took a small step backwards today, with half an eye on the US market where the third quarter results season is about to get underway. Supermarket chain Sainsbury was the worst performing blue-chip as sales growth figures disappointed.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Weak Wall St. undermines Footsie
7th Oct 2009 14:48
A soft opening by Wall Street prompted London's blue chips to take a step back, though plenty of firm features are still to be found. Supermarket Sainsbury's is off a few points after a 4.6% rise in like-for-like sales excluding fuel in the quarter to 3 October came in lower than expected. Exclud
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie trades sideways
7th Oct 2009 12:06
Footsie has traded sideways all morning with traders cautious after yesterday's surge in share and commodity prices. Predictions of a quiet start on Wall Street have added to the low key mood. Supermarket Sainsbury's is off a few points after a 4.6% rise in like-for-like sales excluding fuel in the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Intercontinental buoyed by bullish brokers
7th Oct 2009 11:19
Intercontinental Hotels is the best performer on a quiet day on some bullish broker comment. Broker Panmure Gordon said the relaunch of the Holiday Inn has been driving a turnaround in the fortunes of InterContinental, which slipped into the red in the first half of the year. The broker is now ex
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for Footsie
7th Oct 2009 08:40
London's blue chips are pausing for reflection after yesterday's big gains both here and on Wall Street. Supermarket Sainsbury's is lower despite a 4.6% rise in like for like sales excluding fuel in the quarter to 3 October. Excluding the impact of the VAT cut, like-for-like sales in the quarter, t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Flat start for FTSE 100
7th Oct 2009 07:39
Footsie is in line for a flat start as traders pause for breath following yesterday's surge. Supermarket Sainsbury's posted a 4.6% rise in like for like sales excluding fuel in the quarter to October 3 as shoppers continued flocking to the store amid tough economic times. Excluding the impact of th
Read moreSainsbury's sales growth slows
7th Oct 2009 07:03
Shares in Sainsbury's fell back after the supermarket reported a slowdown in sales growth between the first and second quarters and predicted slower growth to come. Excluding the impact of the fuel and the VAT cut announced last November, like-for-like sales were up by 5.4% from the same period the
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