Smith & Nephew shares tread water
7th Jul 2011 11:59
Shares in artificial joint specialist, Smith & Nephew, were off slightly after rumours of a takeover teased the market yesterday. Its shares moved 11.5p higher to 684p on Wednesday after talk of a 850p approach by United States's Stryker. However, any further details of the alleged cash offer were
Read moreLondon close: Another day of big losses for FTSE 100
5th May 2011 16:51
Stocks fell sharply having started the day well, with banks and miners among the heaviest fallers. First quarter profits fell sharply at part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking, which closed down 8% today, as the bank took an impairment charge that was half a billion pounds larger than it was expec
Read moreSector movers: Smith & Nephew bolsters heath care sector
5th May 2011 16:06
Medical devices firm Smith & Nephew is propping up the heath care equipment and services sector, after a strong first quarter performance. Revenues during the three months ended 2 April rose to $1.06bn, from $995m the year before, boosted by progress at its US knee franchise. Few seemed to be disap
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Schroders drops after profit misses targets
5th May 2011 15:26
Asset management firm Schroders has taken a tumble as profits came short of expectations in the first quarter. The group's profit before tax rose to £103.8m, from £93.2m in the first quarter of 2010, but that wasn't enough for investors who were hoping for a figure closer to £117m. Lloyds has also
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 back on the slide
5th May 2011 12:07
The top share index has given up its bright start to resume the slide suffered yesterday, with banks leading the fall. The mining sector, which had started brightly, is also lower. First quarter profits fell sharply at part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking, as the bank took an impairment charge t
Read moreLondon open: Banks spoil the party
5th May 2011 08:28
Stocks have rallied following yesterday's slide, but only slightly as the banking sector puts a dampener on the recovery. First quarter profits fell sharply at part-nationalised lender Lloyds Banking, as the bank took an impairment charge that was half a billion pounds larger than it was expecting,
Read moreKnee growth puts S&N on solid footing
5th May 2011 07:17
Medical devices firm Smith & Nephew said first quarter revenue was boosted by progress at its US knee franchise while net profit fell. During the first quarter ended 2 April 2011 revenue rose to $1.055bn from $995m the year before. Trading profit fell to $241m from $250m after it incurred higher ad
Read moreThursday preview: BoE rate decision, Lloyds, Morrisons ...
4th May 2011 18:36
It is a big day for central banks on Thursday with the Bank of England and the European Central Bank both set to announce their interest rate decisions, though neither is expected to alter course ... yet. For the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the pressure to lift interest rates
Read moreLondon close: S&P scares off investors
18th Apr 2011 17:02
Having started the day with hopes of rising back above 6,000, the top share index hurtled in the opposite direction to fall below 5,900 after debt ratings firm Standard & Poor's (S&P) put the cat among the pigeons by downgrading the outlook for US sovereign debt. Though S&P affirmed the USA´s 'AAA'
Read moreSector movers: Reckitt recovers
18th Apr 2011 14:09
Reckitt Benckiser is boosting the household goods sector higher, recovering from last week's sell-off. The group - which owns the Cillit Bang brand - saw its share price take a beating on Thursday after it announced the retirement of chief executive officer Bart Becht. Meanwhile, the health care
Read moreLondon midday: Desire subsides after well wash-out
18th Apr 2011 12:18
Bright spots are hard to find on the first trading days of the shortened week, and far from bursting through the 6,000 barrier Footsie heads at pace in the opposite direction. Insurer Resolution leads the blue-chip index lower after UBS downgraded the stock from "buy" to "neutral". Bid hopes for
Read moreLondon open: S&N unnerved by rivals' bid talks
18th Apr 2011 09:06
Expectations of a flat start proved wide of the mark as financial stocks lead the market lower. Banks such as Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland are off the pace, as are insurers such as Resolution, Standard Life, Aviva and Old Mutual. Medical devices maker Smith & Nephew is the worst pe
Read moreSunday tips round-up: Smith & Nephew, RPC, Ferrexpo...
27th Mar 2011 15:00
Last week, BlackRock - the world's largest asset management firm - increased its position in medical device group Smith & Nephew to almost 45m shares, representing 5.02% of the company, good news for a company consistently at the centre of takeover speculation. Shares in the artificial joint maker
Read moreLondon close: Footsie lower as results disappoint
10th Feb 2011 16:29
Footsie staged a late rally to climb back over 6,000, but still ended the day lower amid a very mixed bag of company results. It was a day for corporates to keep their head down as even those companies posting good numbers got whacked. Miner Rio Tinto fell after record full-year profits, a $5bn sha
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie hovers around 6,000
10th Feb 2011 15:18
Footsie has slumped below 6,000 with insurers and miners featuring prominently among the laggards. Miner Rio Tinto is lower even though it had plenty to please shareholders, with record full-year profits, a $5bn share buyback and 20% increase in the dividend. The Anglo-Australian group made a net
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