Sainsbury's retains market share but sales falter in fourth quarter - UPDATE
18th Mar 2014 07:07
- Q4 LFL sales down 3.8 per cent - Q4 total sales down 1.5 per cent - Convenience stores growth slows to 15 per cent - Online growth slows to 6 per cent Sainsbury's fourth quarter was worse than analyst expectations, against a very tough comparative period, as the supermarket group confirmed that m
Read moreLondon close: Shares higher as traders still hoping for best in Crimea
17th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes up 40.46 at 6,568.35 - Help to Buy extended, Persimmon leads gains - Crimea votes to rejoin Russia, travel bans imposed techMARK 2,796.14 +1.11% FTSE 100 6,568.35 +0.62% FTSE 250 16,297.38 +1.07% The City ended today's session in a buoyant mood, lifted by a strong performance amongst
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Persimmon lifted by 'Help to Buy' extension
17th Mar 2014 14:40
Housebuilder Persimmon was in the top spot after UK Chancellor George Osborne announced that he is extending the 'Help to Buy' mortgage guarantee scheme by a further four years. Investors were also responding to Rightmove data which showed that asking prices for homes in the UK rose by 1.6% month-o
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks snap six-day losing streak after Crimea vote
17th Mar 2014 11:36
- Crimea votes to rejoin Russia - Russia-West tensions high after referendum - Housebuilders rise on Help to Buy, housing data - Glencore Xstrata leads miners higher, Vodafone gains techMARK 2,783.12 +0.64% FTSE 100 6,551.58 +0.36% FTSE 250 16,237.65 +0.70% UK stocks were performing well on Monday
Read moreLondon pre-open: Investors await reaction to referendum on Crimea
17th Mar 2014 07:21
UK stocks are expected to open with little change as traders await to see what effect the result of the referendum on Crimea held over the weekend will have on other markets. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open five points lower than Friday's close of 6,527.89. The Moscow-backed referendu
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Stamp duty, Sainsbury, Alibaba
17th Mar 2014 07:20
Despite the Chancellor's announcement that he will provide another 6bn pounds in loans to help people acquire newly built homes, some are warnings that other measures are hurting "aspirational Britain". Since stamp duty is not indexed to inflation many people purchasing homes are having to pay far
Read moreLondon close: Concerns over Ukraine and Russia send stocks lower
14th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 25.89 at 6,527.89 - Ukraine and China give lower sentiment - UK construction output 1.8 per cent in January techMARK 2,765.31 -0.77% FTSE 100 6,527.89 -0.40% FTSE 250 16,124.92 -0.38% Ongoing concerns about Ukraine and China ensured a poor finish to the week for UK stocks. The
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Gold price pushes Fresnillo and Randgold higher
14th Mar 2014 14:52
A jump in the price of gold to a six-month high helped push Fresnillo and Randgold into positive territory today. The climb was being driven by events in Ukraine, as tension mount over its between the troubled country and neighbouring Russia. IMI also gained after Societe Generale increased its ta
Read moreSector movers: Supermarkets recover after Morrison-inspired sell-off
14th Mar 2014 14:40
Food and drug retailers were the best performing stocks on Friday as sentiment in the sector recovered after a sell-off the previous session. WM Morrison dropped 12% on Thursday after the supermarket missed profit forecasts with its guidance for this year as it announced a major £1bn investment pro
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks extend losses ahead of Crimea referendum
14th Mar 2014 11:38
- Ukraine tensions rise ahead of Crimea vote - Analysts cut forecasts for China - Banking stocks mixed - US lifts ban on BP GoM contracts techMARK 2,765.64 -0.76% FTSE 100 6,529.08 -0.38% FTSE 250 16,062.45 -0.76% The FTSE 100 was registering losses for the sixth consecutive session as investors s
Read moreFriday broker round-up UPDATE
14th Mar 2014 09:07
Barclays: Nomura reduces target price from 305p to 285p staying with its buy recommendation. Investec lowers target price from 305p to 295p and keeps its buy recommendation. Ferrexpo: Westhouse Securities increases target price from 190p to 220p and reiterates a buy recommendation. F&C Asset Manag
Read moreLondon close: FTSE falls as Morrison, China, and Ukraine weigh on sentiment
13th Mar 2014 16:59
- FTSE closes down 67.12 at 6,553.78 - UK house prices ease in February - Supermarkets drag - BoE announced banking bonus reforms techMARK 2,786.87 -1.08% FTSE 100 6,553.78 -1.01% FTSE 250 16,186.23 -0.86% UK stocks finished sharply lower, dragged by supermarkets, woes about Chinese growth, and r
Read moreSector movers: Discounter fears rattle grocery stocks as WM Morrison drops
13th Mar 2014 15:22
Supermarket investors' concerns about the competitive threat from cheaper chains were reignited on Thursday after WM Morrison missed profit forecasts with its guidance for this year, causing the food and drug retail sector to take a big hit. The Morrisons chain, which is the fourth-largest supermar
Read moreWM Morrison making 'difficult decisions' to adjust to changing market - UPDATE
13th Mar 2014 15:05
- Turnaround aimed at carving a 'clear position in the market' - Company investing to cut prices and re-adjust promotions - Morrisons 'needs to adjust' to changing market, says CEO WM Morrison's shares were trading at levels not seen since 2006 after its profit guidance for this year missed consens
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Morrison leads supermarkets lower
13th Mar 2014 14:55
WM Morrison's share price dropped today after it issued a disappointing set of full-year results, with like-for-like sales falling 2.8 per cent. Chairman Sir Ian Gibson admitted that the company had been slow to adapt to the changing UK grocery market. The supermarket chain guided to an underlying
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