London midday: Footsie off highs as BP declines
16th Dec 2010 12:05
Footsie remains below the 5,900 point mark having earlier surpassed that level to hit 2½-year highs, with BP still holding the leading share index back. The oil giant is under pressure after news last night that the US government is to sue BP over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill It filed a civil lawsu
Read moreBroker snap: Serco still a 'sell'
16th Dec 2010 11:51
Serco's recent dull share price is not enough to get Panmure Gordon to change its negative stance on the stock as the broker's preference in the sector remains elsewhere. Full-year trading for the outsourcing giant remains in-line with expectations, according to the broker, as the group reiterated
Read moreSerco remains confident of growth
16th Dec 2010 10:11
Outsourcing giant Serco has reconfirmed the update issued last month noting that it expects strong organic revenue growth and progress towards its 2012 margin guidance in the year ending 31 December. The group, which provides management and consulting expertise to the public sector, remains confide
Read moreLondon open: Sluggish spell continues
16th Dec 2010 08:31
Shares are in indecisive mode again this morning though company updates have sparked investor interest. News last night the US government is to sue BP over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has sent shares in the oil giant lower, though not drastically. It filed a civil lawsuit against BP and eight othe
Read moreGB technology used in Serco/Microsoft online offering
1st Dec 2010 13:10
Identity management specialist GB Group has teamed up with UK outsourcing firm Serco and US software mammoth Microsoft to develop an identity management solution aimed at providing citizens with secure access to local authority information and entitlements. Serco has announced today that the firs
Read moreLondon close: US jobs data lifts sentiment
24th Nov 2010 16:44
Footsie put its early uncertainty behind it to close with good gains, helped by strong jobs figures from the US which cheered global markets following the jitteriness of the last couple of days. First-time jobless claims fell by a bigger than expected 34,000 to 407,000 in the week ended 20 November
Read moreLondon afternoon: Rolls celebrates another big order
24th Nov 2010 14:36
Barely a dozen or so FTSE 100 constituents are in the red today as the blue-chip index sets about clawing back some of the losses of the last two days, despite continued concerns about the Irish debt crisis and the military tensions in Korea. Better than expected jobs data from the US put investors
Read moreSerco wins major expansion to Hertfordshire gig
24th Nov 2010 14:12
Outsourcing giant Serco has won a £200m eight-year contract with Hertfordshire County Council to provide a range of front and back office operations. Serco will overhaul the council's internal business processes, develop customer services and co-operate with the council on achieving cost savings of
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers as M&A action heats up
15th Nov 2010 16:37
The top share index snapped out of a weak start to finish in positive territory Monday as jitters over the Irish debt situation eased and bid speculation and company updates attracted attention. Shares in Invensys moved higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Bid rumours boost Invensys
15th Nov 2010 15:03
Bid talk pushed Invensys higher. The engineering firm denies press reports that it has received an approach. Chief executive Ulf Henriksson told the Telegraph that China Southern Rail has agreed in principle the possibility of acquiring Invensys, but no "discussions regarding a possible offer for
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid activity keeps the pot bubbling
15th Nov 2010 14:07
A sprinkling of bid speculation is livening up markets this Monday, as traders wait for the Irish sovereign debt situation to play itself out. Shares in Invensys are higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received an approach. The company's chief executive Ulf Henrik
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie back in the blue
15th Nov 2010 12:07
Footsie is in positive territory now after an impressive rally that has been mostly powered by miners, though there's takeover talk in the oil sector. Premier Oil is doing its bit for the mid-cap index, racing to a new all-time high on talk that state-controlled KNOC, the Koreans who recently paid
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull index lower
15th Nov 2010 08:43
Blue chips have opened lower despite some trading updates today, with miners the main drag on sentiment. BHP Billiton's decision to end its battle to buy Canada's Potash Corp for around $40bn and sweeten shareholders with a $4.2bn share buyback instead has not helped its share price. Earlier this
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small loss forecast
15th Nov 2010 07:37
Wall Street's failure to reclaim any lost ground Friday is expected to dampen the mood in London Monday. Futures prices point to an early 10-point decline for the FTSE 100 after the Dow Jones ended 90 lower in the US at the end of last week. Big news over here is BHP Billiton's decision to end its
Read moreSerco sees significant opportunities
15th Nov 2010 07:13
Serco, the outsourcing company that recently got a telling off for asking suppliers to subsidise the group's contribution to the government's spending cuts, is on track to deliver on its financial guidance for 2010. At the half year Serco had an order book of £16.7bn, since when it has been awarded
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