London afternoon: No help from US
22nd Apr 2010 14:59
Footsie is not being helped by the US, which has started deep in the red, as worries about Greece's debt situation knocks global markets. Greece's financial situation is under scrutiny again after the statistics agency Eurostat warned the country's 2009 budget deficit was 13.6%, more that the 12.7
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Persimmon builds good gains
22nd Apr 2010 12:34
Housebuilder Persimmon is a top riser after it said sales have remained consistent since it last updated the market on March 2, despite uncertainty over the state of the economy and the coming general election. Peers Redrow and Taylor Wimpey are also posting good gains. It's been only seven weeks
Read moreLondon midday: Greek worries resurface
22nd Apr 2010 11:56
Footsie remains deep in the red now as concerns about Greece's debt situation resurfaced. Greece's financial situation is under scrutiny again after the statistics agency Eurostat warned the country's 2009 budget deficit was 13.6%, more that the 12.7% previously estimated. Financials are the majo
Read moreLondon open: Shares slightly lower
22nd Apr 2010 08:13
London's top stocks have opened slightly lower after the US gave up most of its gains before trading closed last night. Bus and rail operator Arriva has agreed to be taken over by Germany's Deutsche Bahn in a £1.59bn deal that will create a new European transport giant. Under the terms of the deal,
Read moreLondon pre-open: Weak start expected
22nd Apr 2010 07:37
Footsie is expected to open a few points lower after the US gave up most of its gains before trading closed last night. Revenues were down at WH Smith in the half year to February 28, but efficiency measures helped the newsagent chain post a rise in pre-tax profits. Revenues slipped to £716m from £
Read moreWH Smith lifts profits despite lower sales
22nd Apr 2010 07:03
Revenues were down at WH Smith in the half year to February 28, but efficiency measures helped the newsagent chain post a rise in pre-tax profits. Revenues slipped to £716m from £731m over the same period the previous year, while pre-tax profits edged up to £62m from £61m. At the travel business,
Read moreThursday preview: Punch, WH Smith, PSNBR
21st Apr 2010 17:56
Pubs group Punch Taverns has been working hard to lose the adjectival preface "cash strapped", with a series of asset disposals, while at the same time attempting to stabilise its business performance. It declares interim results on Thursday and Panmure Gordon is tipping the group will announce pr
Read moreMBL lifted by WH Smith contract
2nd Feb 2010 08:49
Entertainment products distributor MBL Group has signed a new contract with WH Smith to supply DVD and BluRay formats to the newsagent chain’s shops. WH Smith currently sells DVDs and BlueRay products in 448 of its stores. The contract with MBL runs through to 2012. The contract win follows a wee
Read moreLondon close: Footsie weakness continues
27th Jan 2010 17:00
Shares continued their weak run of recent days, with the FTSE 100 ending the day deep in the red. Mining stocks fell on enduring concerns that the Chinese authorities will introduce further measures aimed at cooling down the country's overheating economy. Xstrata, Fresnillo and Anglo American are t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks stuck in reverse
27th Jan 2010 13:38
London's attempts at a rally fizzled out over the lunch time session though the Footsie is trying once more at the mid-afternoon point to climb the mountain. Mining stocks continue to impede the blue-chip index's progress, however, on enduring concerns that the Chinese authorities will introduce f
Read moreLondon midday: Miners pull blue chips lower
27th Jan 2010 12:02
Footsie is trying to rally after an early sell-off on fears that China is planning fiscal measures to cool growth. Mining stocks once again feature prominently among the laggards, with Xstrata, Fresnillo and Anglo American the worst hit. Mining giant Vedanta Resources is also lower despite seeing
Read moreLondon open: Ugly start in London
27th Jan 2010 08:52
It's an ugly start In London with only Johnson Matthey and Amec in the blue, while financials, miners and oils are under heavy selling pressure. Far East markets continued to fall Wednesday on continuing fears that China is planning fiscal measures to cool growth, adding to the unease this morning.
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to beat retreat
27th Jan 2010 07:38
Leading shares are set to open sharply lower after Wall Street gave up a 90-point gain in the last few hours of trade to end flat on the day. Far East markets also continued to fall Wednesday on continuing fears that China is planning fiscal measures to cool growth. Futures prices are currently i
Read moreWH Smith sees sales drop
27th Jan 2010 07:23
Newsagent chain WH Smith reported a drop in sales but said it remains confident in the outcome for the full year. Total group sales were down 2% with like for like (LFL) sales down 4% for the 21 weeks. In the High Street division, LFL sales for the 11 and 21 weeks were down 5% and 4% respectively
Read moreTesco marketing boss' £3.2m profit
25th Nov 2009 16:26
Tesco's commercial and marketing director Richard Brasher has banked a profit of £3.2m on the sale of options he exercised on 24 November. He exercised options over eight separate tranches of shares. Seven tranches were at varying prices and the eighth was for no cost. Brasher retained 361,950 sha
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