Thursday preview: BoE rate decision, Shire, Diageo
9th Feb 2011 15:03
It is a big day for company results but even equity traders will be keeping an ear cocked for the Bank of England's announcement of its interest rate decision. Though two members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for a rate increase last month, up from just one the month before, the sma
Read moreTakeover targets named
29th Jan 2011 14:04
Hold on tight, a wave of patent expiries and generic competition could spark another round of consolidation in the pharma and medical devices sector this year. Billions of dollars have been spent on takeovers or pumped into new issues in recent months as confidence in the recovery grows and cash-ri
Read moreLondon close: Shares close lower despite M&A buzz
17th Jan 2011 16:39
London's leading share index is back below the 6,000 point mark after a sluggish day which saw downbeat miners offsetting mergers and acquisitions excitement. Miners such as Kazakhmys and Fresnillo were out of favour amid lower metals prices after China increased reserve requirements for banks in a
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie dips
17th Jan 2011 14:40
Leading shares lost ground over the lunchtime session, taking the Footsie back below the 6,000 level, with financials and miners featuring prominently among the losers. Miners such as Kazakhmys and Fresnillo are out of favour amid lower metals prices after China increased reserve requirements for b
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smiths rejects medical bid
17th Jan 2011 13:21
Smiths Group is the best performer today following the revelation that it turned down a £2.45bn bid for its medical division from private equity firm Apax. Credit Suisse had previously estimated the medical division was worth £2.1bn. Even so, Smiths did not want to pursue talks at the indicative b
Read moreTechMARK movers: Kofax sells hardware division
17th Jan 2011 12:53
Document automation software supplier Kofax is selling its hardware business to Hannover Finanz. Kofax expects to generate at least $20m in cash from the disposal of the imaging and archive storage equipment supplier, which should be completed in March. The business generated an operating profit o
Read moreLondon midday: Shares still seeking direction
17th Jan 2011 12:11
The top share index remains little changed despite the M&A excitement. US markets are closed today, so shares will have to look elsewhere for inspiration if they are to burst into life. BP is in demand after the oil giant announced a controversial landmark deal with Rosneft, the Russian state oil c
Read moreLondon open: Deals keep blue chips ahead
17th Jan 2011 08:37
London has opened moderately firmer, with potential M&A deals outweighing a weak start for the miners. BP has opened higher after the oil giant announced a controversial landmark deal with Rosneft, the Russian state oil company. As well as confirming the tie-up with Rosneft, BP said it has been aw
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: BP, Smith & Nephew, Interest rates...
16th Jan 2011 10:58
Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has promised to give BP "the most favourable tax treatment" in the Arctic as its £10bn deal with the Kremlin was greeted with cautious optimism by investors yesterday. Late on Friday night, BP agreed to issue £5bn of shares to Russian state-backed oil compa
Read moreLondon close: Late recovery not enough
14th Jan 2011 16:39
Shares came off their lows ahead of the close, helped by an improvement on Wall Street, but still finished in the red, with miners among the fallers. The sector was hurt by speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The economic powerhouse has lifted reserve
Read moreLondon afternoon: Deficit narrows
14th Jan 2011 15:15
A recovery on Wall Street has helped London narrow losses, although the leading index is in danger of ending the week below 6,000. Miners are still lower amid speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The economic powerhouse has lifted reserve requirements
Read moreLondon midday: Mining retreat drags FTSE 100 lower
14th Jan 2011 12:11
FTSE 100 is now firmly in the red as miners retreat amid speculation that commodity hungry China may raise interest rates to cool inflation. The east Asian economic powerhouse has lifted reserve requirements on banks, underlining its determination to deal with inflation. Meanwhile, an increase in
Read moreSmith & Nephew denies merger talks
14th Jan 2011 11:33
Shares in Smith & Nephew quickly gave up earlier gains after the medical devices group denied reports that it is in any talks that could lead to a merger or takeover. A report in the Daily Telegraph said that it was set to enter talks with the private equity backed US orthopaedics group Biomet abou
Read moreLondon open: Intel results give ARM a leg-up
14th Jan 2011 08:37
Leading shares are mixed at the outset leaving the blue-chip index barely changed. Sparkling results after the bell in New York yesterday from chip-maker Intel has whetted appetite for chip designer ARM Holdings. The stock smashes its way to another 52-week high and is up 40% over the last month.
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Smith & Nephew in Biomet talks, Goldman Sachs...
14th Jan 2011 06:38
US orthopaedics giant Biomet is set to begin informal talks with Smith & Nephew (S&N) about a potential £15bn merger. A merger of the private equity-backed company and S&N, which advisers have been working on, would scupper the ambitions of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) which has been stalking the UK gro
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