FTSE 100 movers: Xstrata leads miners advance
5th Mar 2010 14:43
Blue chips had another strong day, with the index closing at an 18-month high driven by banks and miners. Xstrata was the stand-out performer as major shareholder Glencore exercised its option to acquire the Prodeco coking coal operations in Colombia. Under the option agreement, Glencore will pay
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie powers on
5th Mar 2010 11:58
London's blue-chips are nearing a 52-week high on renewed optimism over the banks, a good morning for miners and despite a mixed read on UK factory gate inflation. The cost of goods at the factory gates in February was 4.1% higher than a year earlier, a tad above the 4% annual gain expected by eco
Read moreLondon open: Footsie rising again
5th Mar 2010 08:47
UK equities have opened firmly helped by another good session on Wall St and more gains for the banks. Schroders, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and Standard Chartered lead the financials higher, while Fresnillo, Lonmin and Xstrata are strong among the miners. Swiss group Glencore International
Read moreFriday tips round-up; Schroders, Aggreko, Standard Chartered
5th Mar 2010 06:52
The stock market may still be one fifth below its record high, but Schroders has surpassed its turn of the century peak. Yesterday's full-year results from the FTSE 100 fund manager revealed that its total assets under management had risen to £148bn. The company's willingness to continue sitting on
Read moreLondon close: Footsie suffers hiccup
4th Mar 2010 16:40
The blue chip index failed to stretch its winning streak to a fifth session, falling for the first time this week on negative results reaction and downbeat miners. It held above 5,500 all day despite coming close just after trade began and towards the end of play. Engineering and project managemen
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Results dominate index
4th Mar 2010 16:05
A mixed bag of results dominate the main movers in the Footsie. The bright spot was fund manager Schroders. Net new business inflows jumped to £15bn in 2009 compared with net outflows of £9.6bn in 2008, while funds under management ended the year at £148.4bn versus £110.2bn a year earlier. Total p
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks are becalmed
4th Mar 2010 14:13
It's been an up and down day for the blue-chip index although the Footsie has rarely strayed far from its overnight level. As expected, the Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5% and taken no further action on quantitative easing (QE) amid conflicting signals over the state of the UK econo
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifting sideways
4th Mar 2010 12:13
Footsie is trading sideways after the Bank of England decided on no change to its stance on interest rates and quantitative easing. UK interest rates stay at 0.5% and the QE programme at £200bn. On the company front, results are dominating. Engineering and project management firm Amec is worst of t
Read moreLondon open: Footsie struggles early on
4th Mar 2010 08:30
A four-day winning streak could end Thursday after a poor start following last night's late sell-off on Wall Street, weaker miners and some disappointing company results. Engineering and project management firm Amec is worst of the blue chips as investors react badly to a 3% slip in revenues, or 12
Read moreSchroders starts well in 2010 after decent '09
4th Mar 2010 08:05
Fund manager Schroders has got off to a good start in 2010 after enjoying record net inflows and funds under management last year. Net new business inflows jumped to £15bn compared with net outflows of £9.6bn in 2008, while funds under management ended the year at £148.4bn versus £110.2bn a year ea
Read moreLondon close: Water groups lift Footsie
1st Feb 2010 16:43
Bid speculation helped Footsie to a good start to the week, with water groups in focus. Northumbrian Water spurted higher on reports a Canadian pension fund is poised to bid. Sector peers United Utilities, Pennon Water and Severn Trent rise in sympathy. JP Morgan, which was named two weeks ago as
Read moreLondon afternoon: Blue chips boosted by bid chatter
1st Feb 2010 14:19
US futures point to a good start on Wall Street, with the Dow tipped to add over 60 points in early trading. It's helped London's blue chips move ahead further with water companies the stand-out sector. Northumbrian Water has spurted higher on reports a Canadian pension fund is poised to bid. Secto
Read moreBroker tips: BSkyB, Schroders, Xchanging
1st Feb 2010 12:53
Despite reporting some of its best results in the last year to year and a half, regulatory uncertainty is likely to continue weighing on broadcaster BSkyB, according to broker JP Morgan. The broker thinks BSkyB will, however, continue to perform strongly and raises its target price on the firm to 6
Read moreBroker snap: Credit Suisse sees Schroders slowdown
1st Feb 2010 12:39
Credit Suisse expects a slowdown in inflows at Schroders and has downgraded its rating on the fund manager to 'neutral' from 'outperform.' It expects inflows in the current quarter to fall to £3.7bn from £7bn in the prior quarter and also sees stronger inflows into the lower margin institutional an
Read moreLondon midday: Water companies float higher
1st Feb 2010 11:57
The FTSE 100 ended a quiet morning session marginally in positive territory, helped by some speculative attention focused on utility companies. Northumbrian Water has spurted higher on reports a Canadian pension fund is poised to bid. Sector peers United Utilities, Pennon Water and Severn Trent ris
Read more