London open: Stocks under pressure as debt ceiling looms
9th Oct 2013 08:22
Markets dropped sharply once again on Wednesday as investors' appetite for risk continues to be eroded by the ongoing government shutdown in the US. Not even the news that well-known dove Janet Yellen will be nominated as the next chair of the Federal Reserve lifted stocks this morning, with the FT
Read moreSainsbury Group Development Director adds 6,000 shares to stake
10th Sep 2013 16:27
Luke Jensen, the Group Development Director of Sainsbury, purchased 5,944 shares for him and his wife. The transaction was split into 2,971 shares for himself, bought at 3,974p a time, and 2,973 shares for his wife, bought at 3,972p. Jensen, who joined Sainsbury and the operating board in June 2
Read moreBroker tips: Fresnillo, Old Mutual, Smith & Nephew
13th Aug 2013 11:16
The share price of precious metals miner Fresnillo continued to rebound strongly on Tuesday following recent falls, with UBS providing a boost after initiating coverage of the stock with a 'buy' rating and 1,250p target price. UBS said: "Fresnillo is one of the world's lowest-cost primary silver pr
Read moreBroker snap: Citi downgrades Smith & Nephew after solid run
13th Aug 2013 09:25
Citigroup has cut its rating for medical devices maker Smith & Nephew from 'buy' to 'neutral', saying that the stock's strong performance this year now leaves limited upside. In a research report on Tuesday morning, the broker said: "Smith & Nephew has had a solid run since the beginning of the yea
Read moreLondon open: Resolution leads markets higher ahead of economic data
13th Aug 2013 08:44
Markets gained strongly on Tuesday morning with insurance firm Resolution providing a lift ahead of a flurry of economic data due out later on, as stocks rebounded strongly following a relatively quiet session the day before. On the schedule for today is consumer sentiment figures in Germany, UK in
Read moreSmith & Nephew sticks to full year outlook despite profit fall
1st Aug 2013 07:36
Smith & Nephew suffered a fall in quarterly profits after its hip and knee replacement business battled with a series of headwinds. But it stuck to its full-year outlook following an excellent quarter from its advance would management business and it predicted a pick up in the performance of its or
Read moreLondon close: Economists wax optimistic on UK
8th Jul 2013 17:08
Stocks registered a solid gain on Monday on the back of an advance in the banking sector. That came on the heels of what some economists termed a solid jobs report last Friday Stateside and upwards revisions to growth forecasts for the UK. Leading gains were shares of Royal Bank of Scotland, as Ch
Read moreLondon close: Stocks gain after ECB rate cut, US data
2nd May 2013 16:32
After a subdued start, the FTSE 100 ended Thursday's session in a volatile fashion as traders digested an underwhelming interest-rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB), comments from Mario Draghi and better-than-expected economic data from the States. The ECB did what was expected at midday
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Glencore leaps after merger finally completes
2nd May 2013 15:32
Glencore International was in the top spot after finally completing the merger with fellow miner Xstrata. Oil and gas conglomerate BG Group was also a strong riser after it cheered investors with a one per cent rise in revenue and other operating income. Financial services group Legal & General
Read moreLondon midday: Markets subdued as eyes turn to ECB
2nd May 2013 11:18
Markets were trading within a narrow range on Thursday as traders refrained from taking risk ahead of a potential rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB) this afternoon. The consensus forecast is for a 25 basis-point cut in the ECB's key lending rate (the 'refi' rate) from 0.75% to 0.5%, give
Read moreLondon open: Markets cautious ahead of ECB decision
2nd May 2013 08:57
The FTSE 100 was in the red in early trading on Thursday as nerves set in ahead of the all-important European Central Bank (ECB) policy decision later on. "The day of reckoning has arrived, with the market largely priced for a 25 basis-point (bp) cut in the ECB's main refinancing rate to 0.50%. The
Read moreSmith & Nephew announces 300m dollar share buyback
2nd May 2013 07:11
Medical technology group Smith & Nephew said it plans to give back 300m dollars to shareholders in a buyback plan. The group, which makes artificial hips, said the buyback is part of its new capital allocation framework for further investments and acquisitions. The group also posted revenue of $1.
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Hargreaves Lansdown, Tesco, Smiths News
18th Apr 2013 08:37
Hargreaves Lansdown stands to benefit from the Retail Distribution Review which came into effect this year. As well, the company's business model is structured in such a manner that it gains more through management charges as its clients do so. Further, it is more of a retail supermarket than a fund
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 on track for fourth straight loss
17th Apr 2013 11:39
A number of heavyweight stocks going ex-dividend assured that London's FTSE 100 index was in the red for a fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, while concerns over the global economy continued to weigh on sentiment. Global growth fears have hit markets over the last few days after a surprise slowdo
Read moreLondon open: Ex-div stocks sink markets early on
17th Apr 2013 08:47
The FTSE 100 was in the red for the fourth straight day on Wednesday as a number of ex-dividend stocks provided a drag on London's benchmark index. Global growth concerns have weighed on markets over the last few days after a surprise slowdown was reported in China in the first quarter. These fears
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