London close: Stocks finish down
2nd Oct 2009 16:33
London's leading shares closed in the red but were off earlier lows as the US recovered somewhat after a poor start. A weaker than expected jobs report had pushed US stocks deep in the red, though by midday the markets had retraced some of the losses. Over here, there was good news for home owners
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Unilever, Schroders, RSA
7th Aug 2009 06:44
The long-term case for Unilever is that it has the highest emerging market exposure of its peers ? about 50% of sales ? and so will benefit as deodorant, detergent and salad dressings become staples for more of the world's population. Yesterday's numbers show recovery from years of underperformance
Read moreLondon close: Financials spark good gains
6th Aug 2009 16:22
Footsie fell back in the afternoon session after the Bank of England increased its quantitative easing programme, but still finished healthily in the blue. Banks continued to rise with Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking and Barclays all up. RBS reports its interim figures tomorrow. It is being
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie eases back from day's highs
6th Aug 2009 14:35
Footsie fallen back in the wake of the £50bn increase to £175bn in the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme. Interest rates, as expected, remained on hold at 0.5%. Banks continue to rise with Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking and Barclays all up. RBS reports its interim figures tomo
Read moreLondon midday: QE increase boosts Footsie
6th Aug 2009 12:13
Footsie has reacted calmly to a surprise £50bn increase to £175bn in the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme. Interest rates, as expected, remained on hold at 0.5%. Insurer Aviva is the best performer and leads a life sector rally despite a 31% cut in the interim dividend. A plan for a
Read moreLondon open: Stocks surge ahead
6th Aug 2009 08:53
London's top stocks charge off the blocks as financials set a fast pace in early deals. Insurer Aviva is the main riser after it cut interim dividend by 31% and announced plans for a partial IPO of its Dutch business. IFRS operating profit fell to £1.05bn for the six months ended 30 June 2009 from
Read moreProfit dives at Schroders
6th Aug 2009 07:51
Profit plunged by 56% during the first half at fund manager Schroders and by 73% after exceptional items, but news of net inflows sent the shares higher. The UK blue chip reported a drop in profit before tax and exceptional items for the six months ended 30 June to £76.9m from £173.3m in 2008. Prof
Read moreLondon close: Upward march recommences
29th Jul 2009 16:47
Footsie was back to winning ways Wednesday as investors digested a stream of company updates. Fund manager Schroders led the way after Morgan Stanley upgraded the firm to "overweight" from "underweight" and raised its price target to 1,045p from 710p. Rexam was the major faller after it launched
Read moreLondon afternoon: Financials lift Footsie
29th Jul 2009 14:33
Risers outnumber fallers by around three to one among FTSE 100 constituents, as the blue-chip index resumes its upward climb following yesterday's pause for breath. Financial stocks lead the advance, with insurers Aviva, RSA and Standard Life to the fore, as is part-nationalised bank Royal Bank of
Read moreBroker tips: Schroders, Dignity, Inchcape
29th Jul 2009 13:35
Fund manager Schroders is seeing strong demand for its European corporate bond product, prompting Morgan Stanley to upgrade the stock. Morgan Stanley (MS) has changed its stance on Schroders from "underweight" to "overweight" and ramped up its price target from 710p to 1045p, arguing that the marke
Read moreBroker snap: Corporate bond demand to boost Schroders
29th Jul 2009 12:28
Fund manager Schroders is seeing strong demand for its European corporate bond product, prompting Morgan Stanley to upgrade the stock. Morgan Stanley (MS) has changed its stance on Schroders from "underweight" to "overweight" and ramped up its price target from 710p to 1045p, arguing that the marke
Read moreLondon midday: Blue-chips advance on broad front
29th Jul 2009 11:50
Having seen its winning streak come to an end yesterday Footsie is back on the rise today despite some mixed corporate news. Rexam is the major faller after it launched its well-flagged rights issue to raise £351m at a big discount to the current share price. The interim dividend has also been scra
Read moreLondon close: Footsie continues winning week
16th Jul 2009 16:36
London made it four positive sessions in a row Thursday as some better banks and strength at Petrofac offset largely weaker miners and a big drop at Autonomy. There was little help from Wall Street though, which was trading flat when the City shut up shop. The FTSE 100 has made up about 260 points
Read moreLondon afternoon: Advance gains momentum
16th Jul 2009 15:08
Footsie looks set to make it four days of rises in a row, with a firmer start on Wall Street giving an additional boost in the afternoon session. Risers outnumber fallers by three to one but among the fallers is data search software firm Autonomy, despite registering its 25th consecutive quarter of
Read moreLondon midday: Market rises but Autonomy disappoints
16th Jul 2009 11:53
London's blue-chip index has limped back into positive territory, despite weakness from the heavily weighted mining sector. Data search software firm Autonomy has registered its 25th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. Citigroup thought the results were "solid" and took "most of the bear a
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