SSE encouraged despite slip in customer numbers
25th Jul 2013 11:41
Scottish & Southern Energy owner SSE has reported an "encouraging start" to its financial year despite a slight drop in customer numbers. The FTSE 100 group's electricity and gas customer accounts shrank slightly in Great Britain and Ireland dipped very marginally from 9.47m to 9.46m during the th
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 pulls back from seven-week high
19th Jul 2013 11:25
Mining stocks were among the worst performers on Friday morning, providing a drag on the FTSE 100 as risk appetite declined following the index's seven-week high reached the day before. London's benchmark index closed at 6,634 on Thursday; the last time the index finished higher was on May 30th whe
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall after gloomy figures from Microsoft, Google
19th Jul 2013 08:13
The FTSE 100 pulled back from a seven-week high on Friday morning after disappointing results from some Wall Street heavyweights last night. London's benchmark index closed at 6,634 on Thursday; the last time the index finished higher was on May 30th when it closed at 6,657. Both the S&P 500 and
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners fall on concerns over Chinese slowdown
24th Jun 2013 14:13
Mining stocks were again bearing the brunt of the market-wide sell-off on Monday on concerns over slowing growth in China after Goldman Sachs cut its growth forecasts for the powerhouse for this year and the next. Vedanta, Antofagasta, Glencore Xstrata and Anglo American were all registering moderat
Read moreMonday broker round-up UPDATE
17th Jun 2013 07:21
Antofagasta: UBS reduces target price from 1140p to 1050p, while upgrading from neutral to buy. ARM Holdings: Analysts at Numis have cut their view on the shares to reduce from hold. Associated British Foods: Nomura cuts target price from 1800p to 1650p downgrading to reduce. Atkins: Jefferies u
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: RBS, Polymetal, Apple...
14th Jun 2013 06:46
According to The Scotsman, Sainsbury's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin King is among the names being thrown into the hat of potential recruits for the CEO role at RBS, "although a candidate from within the financial services sector remains most likely to replace Stephen Hester". The paper also
Read moreWednesday broker round-up UPDATE
12th Jun 2013 07:55
Aberdeen Asset Management: Canaccord Genuity cuts target price from 460p to 440p, while leaving its buy recommendation unchanged. ASOS: Canaccord Genuity downgrades to hold with a target price of 3400p. BT Group: Credit Suisse increases target price from 300p to 350p and maintains an outperform ra
Read moreLondon close: Stocks plummet as bond yields rise
29th May 2013 16:38
Financial markets erased yesterday's impressive gains on Wednesday as renewed concerns about the global economy hammered sentiment in London. "In an almost complete reversal of yesterday's price action the bears have reasserted themselves today, overturning the brief return to optimism as European
Read moreSector movers: Utilities drop as yield-hunters turn to US debt
29th May 2013 14:46
Every sector in London was either flat or in the red on Wednesday afternoon as concerns about the global economy - following downgrades to growth forecasts from the OECD - sparked a market-wide sell-off. The utilities sectors, which have put in an impressive performance in 2013 so far, were firmly
Read moreSSE joint-venture wind farm receives development consent
24th May 2013 13:26
Galloper offshore wind farm, the 50:50 joint venture between FTSE 100-listed renewable electricity and gas supplier SSE and RWE npower renewables, has received development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, an update issued by SSE on Friday has disclosed. The Gallop
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Ocado, UK Mail, Hibu...
23rd May 2013 06:54
The Telegraph says that Waitrose head Mark Price is refusing to meet with Ocado chief Tim Steiner after the online grocery group agreed to help rival Morrison develop an online shopping website. According to The Times, British parcel delivery group UK Mail is close to signing a deal with the Depart
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pull back as UK retail sales drop
22nd May 2013 12:02
Disappointing retail sales in the UK saw markets pull back from a 13-year highs on Wednesday morning while traders kept a close eye on central banks around the world. UK retail sales volumes fell sharply in April, by 1.3% month-on-month as the poor weather continued to lead shoppers to forego purch
Read moreLondon open: Stocks dip as focus turns to central banks
22nd May 2013 08:38
Markets pulled back from new 13-year highs on Wednesday morning as traders turned cautious ahead of statements from central banks in the UK and US. The FTSE 100 finished at a closing price of 6,803.87 on Tuesday, extending its impressive year-to-date rise to over 15%. The index is now coming close
Read moreSSE profits spike after price hike and cold winter
22nd May 2013 07:02
Energy group SSE enjoyed a strong increase in profits in the year to March thanks a rise in prices and a cold and long winter period. The group, formerly known as Scottish & Southern Energy, saw adjusted pre-tax profits tax rise 5.6% to £1.4bn as it cut investment and capital expenditure 13% to £1
Read moreSector movers: Water stocks lift utilities higher
20th May 2013 14:09
Utilities stock were performing well on Monday afternoon, continuing their impressive year-to-date rise, after some upbeat comments about the UK water sector from UBS. "Compared to other low-risk inflation-protected returns the UK water sector is currently highly attractive even without financial r
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