London open: BT turns Footsie blue
12th Nov 2009 08:32
Shares are inching higher in early deals as investors welcome second quarter results from BT, offsetting losses among insurers following results from Friends Provident owner Resolution. Telecoms giant BT reported second quarter revenue was in line with expectations and thinks it can cut costs by at
Read moreLondon pre-open: Lower start expected
12th Nov 2009 07:38
Footsie is expected to slip back slightly in early dealings following good gains yesterday. Telecoms giant BT has reported second quarter revenue in line with expectations and thinks it will generate at least £1.6bn of free cash flow this year versus its old target of over £1bn. Revenue for the thr
Read moreSerco on track to meet guidance
12th Nov 2009 07:03
Outsourcing group Serco said customers' need to improve efficiency in the current economic climate is providing it with more opportunities to win contracts as it reported continued strong trading. Serco, whose activities include operating London's Docklands Light Railway and vans used to transport
Read moreDiscount shares for new Finsbury Food boss
22nd Oct 2009 15:44
Cakes and speciality breads maker Finsbury Food's new chief executive has been issued 1.04m shares at 19.25p a share as part of his remuneration package. He received a further 201,000 shares for nothing, taking his total stake to 1.25m shares. At the current share price of 28.5p, Duffy's additional
Read moreSerco boss raises cash for retirement
20th Oct 2009 15:54
Departing Serco chairman Kevin Beeston has sold 76,800 shares in the international outsourcing services provider. Beeston sold 50,000 shares held in his own name and 26,800 in the name of his wife Jayne Beeston. All the shares were sold at 535.35p each. The disposals raised just over £410,000. Beest
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to drop slightly
13th Oct 2009 07:36
London's top stocks are expected to open slightly lower after finishing at their best levels in over a year Monday. Traders see Footsie drop around 10 points. Whitbread reported a 10.4% drop in first half pre-tax profits but said it is now seeing an improving trend at its budget hotel chain Premier
Read moreSerco chairman to step down
13th Oct 2009 07:23
International service company Serco Group announced that Chairman Kevin Beeston will step down the group's AGM in May 2010. The group said it will now begin the process of appointing a new Chairman. Commenting on his decision Kevin Beeston said: 'Next year will mark my 25th anniversary with Serco
Read moreDouglas sure about Shore
12th Oct 2009 17:18
Shares in stockbroker Shore Capital have almost tripled in value since April, but non-executive director Barclay Douglas thinks there's more to come. The accountant has spent £92,000 on 250,000 shares at 36.75p each. He now owns 1.25m shares, or half a per cent of the company. Shore received a sho
Read moreGCM Resources chairman buys in
25th Sep 2009 16:58
Coal mine developer GCM Resources' non-executive chairman Gerard Holden has bought nearly £45,000 worth of shares in the company. He took 50,000 at 89p a time. The shares closed at 92p going into the weekend. GCM is hoping to develop the Phulbari Coal project in Bangladesh, pending approval from
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: L&G, Dechra, Johnston Press
2nd Sep 2009 06:38
Legal & General's new finance head Nigel Wilson spent his first day in the job on Tuesday. He now faces an interesting first few months at the embattled insurer. When his predecessor Andrew Palmer stood down in April, the company - once the darling of the stock market - had seen its relationship wi
Read moreLondon close: Footsie plunges after Wall Street reversal
1st Sep 2009 16:43
A sharp reversal in US stocks' fortunes ensured Footsie finished deep in the red after abruptly giving up an attempt to climb into positive territory. Miners were weak on lower metals prices, with Kazakh pair ENRC and Kazakhmys among the worst hit. Lower metals prices also hurt the likes of Antof
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie still stuck after plunge
1st Sep 2009 14:41
There has been little change in the FTSE 100 since it abruptly took a downward turn this morning Kazakh resources group ENRC is leading the mining sector lower, closely followed by fellow Kazakh operation Kazakhmys. Lower metals prices are also hitting the likes of Antofagasta, Anglo American, Lon
Read moreLondon midday: Banks and miners lead retreat
1st Sep 2009 12:16
Banks and miners are dragging the market lower and have pushed the Footsie below the 4,900 level. Kazakh resources group ENRC is leading the mining sector lower, closely followed by fellow Kazakhi operation Kazakhmys. Lower metals prices are also hitting the likes of Antofagasta, Anglo American, L
Read moreSerco wins contracts worth up to £500m
1st Sep 2009 07:54
Support services group Serco today announced it has won three UK government contracts worth between £400m and £500m to help unemployed workers find a job. The five-year contracts, which start in October, will support the government's Flexible New Deal initiative in the West Midlands, North Wales an
Read moreLondon close: Footsie runs out of steam
26th Aug 2009 16:27
Wall Street's inability to hold onto new home sale-inspired gains was the final nail in the coffin for London, bringing to an end a six-day winning streak. Much of the blame lay with the UK-listed miners who hogged the list of largest losers on weaker metal prices. Antofagasta was among the worst
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