Sports Direct shares leap after Morgan Stanley initiates stock at 'overweight'
1st Apr 2015 15:05
Shares in retailer Sports Direct rose 2% to trade at 619p after Morgan Stanley started coverage with an 'overweight' rating, say traders. The stock's rise on Wednesday came after Morgan Stanley said Sports Direct has the potential to replicate its UK success in many European markets. "Even after di
Read moreLondon close: Greek developments, central bank uncertainty keep UK stocks flat
19th Feb 2015 16:33
It was another subdued finish for London's stocks on Thursday as the market continued to fluctuate at a 15-year high on the back of mixed newsflow about Greece and uncertainty regarding global monetary policy. The FTSE 100 finished the session down just 0.1% at 6,888.90. The index has stayed broadly
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks recover as Greek hopes outweigh Fed uncertainty
19th Feb 2015 11:39
UK stocks had erased earlier losses by Thursday lunchtime as hopes about Greece outweighed uncertainty arising from the minutes of the latest Federal Reserve policy meeting. The FTSE 100 was up just 0.02% at 6,899.24 by midday, having bounced off an intraday low of 6,858.67 reached early on. The in
Read moreLondon open: Centrica and BAE lead markets lower after FOMC minutes
19th Feb 2015 08:43
Uncertainty surrounding the future of monetary policy in the States was weighing on UK stocks on Thursday morning, after the Federal Reserve showed it was wary of raising rates too soon. The FTSE 100 was down 0.3% at 6,879 early on, with energy provider Centrica and defence contractor BAE Systems le
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to fall on Fed uncertainty
19th Feb 2015 07:34
UK stocks were expected to track Wall Street lower on Thursday morning after minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting showed that policymakers are wary of raising interest rates too soon. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 18 points lower than Wednesday's close of 6,898.08. UK marke
Read moreSports Direct reiterates guidance despite Christmas slowdown
19th Feb 2015 07:16
High street sportswear retailer Sports Direct said it is confident of increasing profits this year despite a significant slowdown in sales growth in its third quarter. Sales for the 13 weeks to 25 January were up just 2.6% at £771m, compared with 6.5% growth in the first half of its financial year.
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Putin tactics, Nestle results, Social housing shortage
19th Feb 2015 06:14
British defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin could repeat destabilising tactics against Baltic members of the Nato alliance that were previously used against Ukraine, according to The Guardian. Nestle reported is slowest annual growth rate since 2009 due
Read moreLondon open: Grexit fears hit UK stocks, IHG underwhelms
17th Feb 2015 08:26
UK stocks slipped on Tuesday morning on the back of concerns about a 'Grexit' as another Eurogroup meeting about Greece ended with no agreement. London's FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 6,841 early on with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) leading the decline after its annual results. A meeting of Euro
Read moreSports Direct plans expansion of UK business
25th Jan 2015 18:14
Sports Direct was making headlines over the weekend as its plans to expand its UK business were revealed. The sports clothing and equipment retailer has been named as one of the companies planning to acquire Evans Cycles in a deal that would be worth £100m. According to The Telegraph, a source said
Read moreLondon close: ECB speculation, BoE minutes spark surge in UK stocks
21st Jan 2015 16:27
Expectations for continued loose monetary policy in the UK and hopes for government bond purchases in the Eurozone gave stock markets a big lift on Wednesday, with London's FTSE 100 rising to its highest in nearly seven weeks. Well-received trading updates from Pearson and SABMiller, and strong gain
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Pearson soars on higher-than-expected profits, Sports Direct sinks on share sales
21st Jan 2015 14:18
Pearson, the Financial Times and education publisher, rose strongly after guiding to higher profits in 2015 as it maintained its forecast for results last year. Adjusted earnings per share should rise to 75p-80p this year, compared with an estimated 66p in 2014. Vodafone was also among the risers
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks at three-week high on hopes for central bank support
21st Jan 2015 11:19
UK stocks are trading at their highest levels in over three weeks as speculation grows about further potential stimulus in the Eurozone and continued loose monetary policy in the UK. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.7% at 6,666 by midday, after closing at 6,620.10 on Tuesday, its highest finish since 29 D
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks rise as corporate updates impress
21st Jan 2015 08:23
A decent rally on Wall Street and gains on Asian markets led to a positive start for UK stocks on Wednesday, helped by well-received updates from a number of blue chips. The FTSE 100 was up 0.4% at 6,646, with trading statements from Pearson, Dixons Carphone and SABMiller impressing investors early
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Chinese PPI, Google, Sports Direct...
9th Jan 2015 07:00
Producer prices in China fell by their most in over two years in December, "adding to fears that deflation beckons in the world's second-largest economy", writes the Financial Times. Factory gate prices dropped by 3.3% year-on-year last month, the largest decline since September 2012, accelerating f
Read moreLondon close: Stocks end choppy session firmly lower as data disappoints
6th Jan 2015 17:19
It was a volatile day for the UK equity market with stocks swinging between losses and gains for most of the session, with a late sell-off sending the FTSE 100 firmly in the red by the close. Service-sector activity data from across the globe largely came in below expectations with weak figures from
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