London close: Blue chips at 10½-month high
20th Aug 2009 16:28
A brace of better than expected US data reinvigorated markets early afternoon Thursday, helping London close at it highest since early October. The Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index rose to +4.2 in August from -7.5 in July, while the Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators rose 0
Read moreLondon afternoon: Prices bubble over
20th Aug 2009 14:14
Equity prices came off the top over the lunch-time session but remain firmly in the blue, albeit in thin trade, largely due to the strength of miners. Mining giant Rio Tinto is higher despite seeing profits falling by more than half in the six months to June 30 as it felt the impact of sharply lowe
Read moreLondon midday: Retail sales give a boost
20th Aug 2009 12:10
July's retail sales figures have given a lift to an already buoyant equity market. Figures revealed sales grew 0.4% from June, putting the annual increase to 3.3%, the highest since May 2008. Economists had predicted a rise of just 0.2% for July following June's 1.2% gain and a 2.7% year-on-year imp
Read moreLondon open: Decent gains posted
20th Aug 2009 08:23
Decent gains posted by Footsie after the open with the early pacesetters financials, especially banks, and miners. Mining giant Rio Tinto is higher despite seeing profits falling by more than half in the six months to June 30 as it felt the impact of sharply lower commodity prices amid tough econom
Read moreSpirax profits down 28%
20th Aug 2009 07:06
Spirax-Sarco, the steam valve and pump maker, saw interim profits tumble 28% as higher impairment charges and challenging trading conditions weighed. Pre-tax profit fell to £30.2m from £41.9m on sales in the half year that rose 5% to £251.6. At constant exchange rates, sales declined 8% against a c
Read moreLondon pre-open: Rally to continue
20th Aug 2009 07:03
London is set to continue the firmer trend seen late in the afternoon session yesterday with sentiment boosted by Wall Street's strength yesterday and strong gains overnight in Japan and Hong Kong. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 45 points up from the previous close of 4,690. Mining gi
Read moreNorthern Bear chief stake under 2m
2nd Jul 2009 16:36
Support services group Northern Bear said chief executive Graham Forrest raised £150,000 and reduced his stake in the firm to under 2m shares. Forrest disposed of 300,000 shares to a third party at a price of 50p each. He is now interested in 1.98m shares, which represents 10.46% of the group. Top
Read moreParkmead men buy 10m shares each
22nd Jun 2009 16:57
There's been heavy buying of investment company Parkmead recently, with bosses keen to snap up stock near historic lows. Non-executive chairman Colin Goodall and non-executive director Thomas Cross both bought 10m shares at 1p each. The £100,000 purchases take former BP man Goodall's stake to 12m
Read morePaddy Power non-exec trims stake
19th Jun 2009 17:30
Tom Grace, senior independent director of Paddy Power, has cut his stake in the Irish bookie, which has seen a rally in the share price since February. Grace, a former Irish rugby international and the treasurer of the Irish Rugby Football Union, sold €165,000 worth at €10 per share. Grace joined t
Read moreSpirax-Sarco sees exchange rate benefit
12th May 2009 15:30
Spirax-Sarco, the steam valve and pump maker, said it expects that sales and profit will benefit from more favourable exchange rates this year. The group also said it is not able to establish a definitive trend in market conditions and has not seen sufficient evidence to suggest that its business
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