London 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
Read moreLondon afternoon: RBS buoyed by pension moves
26th Aug 2009 14:32
Equity prices are mixed with a lower bias. The Footsie continues to drift lower, weighed down by underperforming resource stocks. Pre-tax profits plunged at Tullow in the first half of the year as the firm felt the pinch of the slide in oil prices. The oil company posted a pre-tax profit of £34.
Read moreBroker tips: M&S, electrical retailers, Serco
26th Aug 2009 13:10
Singer Capital Markets has lifted its target price for food and clothing retailer Marks & Spencer while maintaining its 'hold' rating. 'Although heavily indebted and exposed to a large pension scheme where actuarial liabilities are likely rising, the investment case for M&S has stabilised as self-h
Read moreLondon midday: Resource stocks a drag
26th Aug 2009 12:09
Given that resource stocks are in the dog-house the Footsie is doing well to be only moderately in the red on a day of mixed results for blue chips. Pre-tax profits plunged at Tullow in the first half of the year as the firm felt the pinch of the slide in oil prices. The oil company posted a pre-t
Read moreBroker snap: Serco delivers pleasant surprise
26th Aug 2009 11:35
Support services group Serco surprised the market with better than expected results on Wednesday morning, prompting Charles Stanley to reiterate its recommendation to stock up on the shares. 'The announcement should be well received for a number of reasons. Firstly, the group has surprised with a m
Read moreLondon open: Lower start for FTSE 100
26th Aug 2009 08:20
Footsie is slightly lower in early dealings, with the advertising group WPP the leading share index's heaviest faller after reporting interim results. WPP said half-year results continue to reflect the impact of the global economic contraction, which continued to intensify in the second quarter, th
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