London close: UK GDP, Eurozone concerns weigh on stocks
28th Mar 2012 16:40
- UK Q4 GDP weaker than first thought - RSA leads ex-div stocks lower - Comments from ECB's Weidmann weigh on markets Just a dozen or so stocks on the FTSE 100 finished in the blue on Wednesday as the benchmark index sank a whole percentage point to its lowest level of the day. A weaker-than-expe
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Investors turn to defensive stocks following GDP data
28th Mar 2012 13:52
Investors appeared to be shifting their money into defensive sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and utilities, putting drugs giants GlaxoSmithKline and Shire in demand, joined by energy firm International Power and National Grid. Investor sentiment was hit by the news that the UK economy did worse i
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks slip after UK GDP data
28th Mar 2012 11:36
- UK Q4 GDP weaker than first thought - RSA leads ex-div stocks lower - Defensives in demand The FTSE 100 swung between gains and losses during the morning session in London as stocks reacted to some worse-than-expected economic data. The UK economy did worse in the last three months of 2011 than
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flat ahead of GDP data
28th Mar 2012 08:24
- Investors await UK GDP data - RSA, Pru, Anglo among ex-div stocks providing a drag - Kenmare, Petropavlovsk lead rise on FTSE 250 London's blue chip index opened cautiously on Wednesday with ex-dividend stocks registering heavy losses, while concerns over the outlook for US economic growth weighe
Read moreLondon open: BT leads the risers early on
23rd Mar 2012 08:38
The Footsie rose in the opening hour of Friday's session, helped by a strong performance by financial stocks. Company news was thin on the ground early on but BT was the best performer after announcing plans to eliminate its pension deficit within 10 years. The blue chip index remains nearly 100 po
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
13th Mar 2012 09:59
AstraZeneca: Panmure Gordon keeps buy rating and 3,600p target. Bellway: Credit Suisse maintains outperform rating. BG Group: Nomura raises target from 1,865p to 1,950p, buy rating kept. Computacenter: Panmure Gordon ups target from 490p to 501p, buy rating unchanged. Hays: Credit Suisse ups tar
Read moreMonday broker round-up
12th Mar 2012 09:51
Aggreko: UBS ups target from 2,400p to 2,500p, buy rating unchanged. AMEC: Societe Generale upgrades from hold to buy, target hiked from 950p to 1,320p. Antofagasta: Oriel Securities downgrades from add to hold, target cut from 1,294p to 1,258p. Ark Therapeutics: Collins Stewart keeps buy recomme
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aggreko up on strong revenues
9th Mar 2012 12:54
Temporary power and temperature control solutions provider Aggreko was a top riser after it saw strong growth in revenues in 2011 despite going up against tough comparative figures from 2010, a year which saw the FIFA World Cup, the Winter Olympics and the Asian Games. Group revenue rose 14% to £1,
Read moreLondon close: Stocks surge ahead of Greek debt-swap deadline
8th Mar 2012 16:31
- Greek debt-swap participation rate estimated at 61 percent. - BoE, ECB keep rates on hold. - ECB cuts growth forecasts for Eurozone. The Footsie finished in the day in a bullish mood on the back of optimism that Greece will reach its participation target for the debt-swap deal to avoid a disorder
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Double resignation hits Schroders' shares
8th Mar 2012 13:15
Both the Chairman and the Chief Investment Officer at asset management firm Schroders have announced their intention to step down from their respective roles, a move which caused shares to take a swift dive. Meanwhile, miners were among the highest risers of the day, with Kazakhmys, Antofagasta, V
Read moreLondon midday: Momentum continues as BoE stays put
8th Mar 2012 11:43
- BoE maintains interest rates and asset purchases. - Greek debt-swap participation rate estimated at 60 percent. - Miners lift the Footsie higher. The earlier momentum had continued by lunchtime after the Bank of England announced that it has decided to maintain its interest rates at 0.5 percent,
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
8th Mar 2012 09:31
Admiral: Nomura raises target from 1,100p to 1,300p, buy rating kept; Collins Stewart ups target from 975p to 1,110p, hold rating kept; Credit Suisse reiterates outperform rating and 1,300p. Afren: UBS raises target from 140p to 150p, buy rating maintained. Amlin: Jefferies raises target from 317p
Read moreChairman and CIO stepping down at Schroders
8th Mar 2012 07:15
Chairman Michael Miles is calling time on his career at asset management firm Schroders, while Chief Investment Officer Alan Brown is also giving up his role and stepping down from the board, though he will remain with the company, operating as a senior adviser. Miles will be succeeded by Andrew Be
Read moreThursday preview: Aviva, Schroders, Morrisons, BoE
7th Mar 2012 18:04
As per usual, Thursday is the busiest day of the week for company announcements, with the added excitement this week of the Bank of England making its interest rate and asset purchasing policy announcement at midday. Not that many people are expecting the Bank to do anything other than maintain the
Read moreSector movers: Financial stocks lifted by Man
1st Mar 2012 15:58
A 10 percent rise in Man Group's share price pushed the financial services sector to the top the pile today after the hedge fund manager reported a more generous dividend policy and a slow-down in the net outflow of funds. The group said funds under management (FUM) at the end of February clocked i
Read more