London close: Good as gold
16th Nov 2009 16:56
Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared. Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sainsbury slides on sales leak
16th Nov 2009 14:31
After getting off to a flying start, the FTSE 100 index has drifted sideways since the middle of the morning. A larger part of the blue-chip index's gain is down to mining stocks, which are in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin leads the sector higher despite reporting a full-y
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains consolidated
16th Nov 2009 12:11
Stock prices saw a modest amount of profit taking after the Footsie hit a 14-month high. Lonmin is leading the mining sector higher despite reporting a full-year loss. The South African platinum miner fell into the red in the year to September 30 as prices for the precious metal slumped in line wit
Read moreLondon close: Shares shake off US blues
6th Nov 2009 17:15
The Footsie finished a see-saw day in positive territory, shrugging off concerns about the worse than expected US jobless figures, which revealed the US unemployment rate has risen above the 10% level. Banks enjoyed a day in the sun, helped by a positive response to results from Royal Bank of Scotl
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks slide on US jobless news
6th Nov 2009 14:04
Leading shares are retreating rapidly in the wake of worse than expected US non-farm payrolls data. October non-farm payrolls data showed the US unemployment rate rose to 10.2% from 9.8% in September. The number of jobs lost in October was 190,000, versus expectations of 175,000 job losses. So fa
Read moreBroker tips: Miners, Rentokil, Great Portland
6th Nov 2009 12:40
Miners have been put under the microscope by Standard & Poors Equity Research and Citigroup, with positive verdicts on BHP Billiton, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto. In a review of mid-cap miners Citigroup observes that the share price performance of Chilean copper miner Antofagasta has lagged the likes
Read moreLondon midday: Financials lead advance
6th Nov 2009 12:04
Banks and property stocks are leading the market higher, though the advance is being conducted at a leisurely pace. More huge write-offs sent Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) deep into loss over the past three months. Nine-month losses now total £2.06bn against a profit £1.8bn this time last year. Des
Read moreSegro sells Great Western Industrial Park for £110.4m
6th Nov 2009 07:55
Property group Segro has sold Great Western Industrial Park in Southall, West London to Universities Superannuation Scheme, the second largest private pension scheme in the UK, for £110.4m. The figure represents a net initial yield of 6.9%, which rises to over 7% once outstanding reviews are settle
Read moreLondon close: US sparks late rally
5th Nov 2009 16:21
A smaller than expected increase to the Bank of England's quantitative easing programme and and early surge on Wall Street helped Footsie overcome early losses and close in the blue. The central bank voted to pump an additional £25bn into the economy, taking QE to £200bn. It also kept interest rate
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie climbs into blue
5th Nov 2009 14:13
A smaller than expected increase to the Bank of England's quantitative easing (QE) programme and stronger US futures have hauled London into the blue. The central bank voted to pump an additional £25bn into the economy, taking QE to £200bn. It also kept interest rates at 0.5%. "The fact that the M
Read moreLondon midday: BoE expands QE programme
5th Nov 2009 10:41
London's top stocks are trading quietly after their initial fall as investors mull the Bank of England's decision to extend its quantitative easing programme by a further £25bn to £200bn. Telecoms group Cable & Wireless has dropped after it revived plans to split itself in to two parts. The announc
Read moreLondon open: Shares start lower
5th Nov 2009 08:17
London's top stocks opened lower in line with the weaker trend seen in the afternoon session on Wall Street and losses overnight on Asian markets. The market has much to occupy itself ahead of the announcement later today of the Bank of England's decision on whether to extend its quantitative easi
Read moreSegro sees early signs of recovery
5th Nov 2009 07:31
Segro said the level of new enquiries for space has continued to trend downwards during the third quarter, though the property group added that some early signs of recovery have emerged over the last few weeks. Capital values also appear to have stabilised in the UK, according to the group. 'We ar
Read moreLondon close: Miners fire Footsie higher
2nd Nov 2009 16:23
Miners dominated London's top ten risers, offsetting weakness among financials, while promising US manufacturing data encouraged buyers over here. Randgold Resources was top of the pile as the price of gold topped $1,060 an ounce. It's also keen to bring the renamed Kibali mine into production as s
Read moreLondon close: Oil fired Footsie
19th Oct 2009 17:10
Boosted by a bright start on Wall Street equities finished the day with a flourish in London with the FTSE 100 index close to racking up a triple digit gain. Energy stocks saw some late interest as the price of oil moved higher. At midday in New York the price of the most widely traded oil futures
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