Sector movers: SSE falls as EDF cuts gas prices
11th Jan 2012 15:35
UK-listed electricity stocks were providing a drag today, after French utilities giant Electricite de France announced that it would reduce gas bills from its UK arm. Gas and electricity giant SSE, the nation's second-largest energy supplier, was among the worst performers of the day on the FTSE 10
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: RBS in top spot after cost-saving measures leaked
11th Jan 2012 12:08
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was on the up after it was reported that its Irish unit is preparing its second round of job cuts in four years as part of an effort to save about €50m ($63.9m), according to two people with knowledge of the plan, a Bloomberg News report said. Meanwhile, SSE became the
Read moreTuesday broker round-up - UPDATE
10th Jan 2012 09:15
Cairn Energy: Oriel upgrades to add from hold. Tesco: Bank of America Merrill Lynch downgrades to neutral from buy. Marks & Spencer: Panmure Gordon reiterates hold and 307p target; Peel Hunt maintains hold and 350p target. Barclays: UBS cuts target from 215p to 199p, neutral rating unchanged. R
Read moreSSE subsidiary makes deal with Scottish Equity Partners
9th Jan 2012 13:47
Wholly-owned SSE subsidiary SSE Ventures has completed a deal with Scottish Equity Partners (SEP). SEP's new Environmental Energies Fund (EEF) has acquired a portfolio of cleantech investments owned by SSE Ventures. As part of the deal, SSE Ventures has become a major partner in the new fund. Un
Read moreSector movers: Next casts wide shadow
4th Jan 2012 17:17
A trading update from fashion chain Next, in which it acknowledged disappointing sales in December at its High Street and edge of town stores, had a knock-on effect for the likes of Marks & Spencer, Burberry and Supergroup. The Personal Goods sector took a dive as two of the bigger players, Burberr
Read moreSSE blows its own trumpet
3rd Jan 2012 13:48
Gas and electricity group SSE has announced that it now has over one gigawatt (GW) or one thousand megawatts (MW) of onshore wind farm capacity in operation for the first time. The milestone comes as a result of the continuing progress in the construction of its large capital projects. The good
Read moreThursday broker round-up - UPDATE
22nd Dec 2011 08:21
Kingfisher: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform rating and 310p target. Next: Credit Suisse maintains outperform rating and 3,000p target. Marks & Spencer: Credit Suisse cuts target from 345p to 334p, neutral rating unchanged. Home Retail: Credit Suisse cuts target from 85p to 70p, keeps underper
Read moreSector movers: Kazakhmys leads miners higher after securing funding
16th Dec 2011 13:50
The miners were the best performers on Friday afternoon, with stocks averaging gains of nearly 2% by 13:50. Leading the charge was copper giant Kazakhmys after a $1.5bn loan facility signed for the Aktogay copper project in East Kazakhstan meant that it has now secured funding for all of its develo
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks continue to fall, banks tumble
12th Dec 2011 11:49
The Footsie was trading just below the 5,500 level at midday, with banks and miners providing a drag on London's blue chip index. It seems that markets across Europe have given a lukewarm reaction to the 'fiscal compact' agreed by (some) EU leaders late last week, with indices in Paris, Frankfurt an
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes flat on euro concerns
6th Dec 2011 16:53
The Footsie finished flat on Tuesday, as some worrying comments on the Eurozone by ratings agency Standard & Poor's continued to weigh on sentiment. The index traded within a narrow range of just 51 points today, with investors likely to stay cautious ahead of a pivotal EU summit scheduled at the e
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie in the blue despite S&P warning
6th Dec 2011 12:01
UK equities pushed into positive territory (albeit only slightly) by midday but trade was choppy in the morning session, as a Standard & Poor's warning over Eurozone ratings rattled markets' nerves. Nevertheless, US futures were pointing to a positive start on Wall Street, providing a lift here in
Read moreLondon open: Stocks up on euro hopes, Michael Page tanks
5th Dec 2011 08:17
London's blue chip index has opened higher, building on last week's gains of 7.5%, as a pivotal week in the Eurozone crisis kicks off. KEY WEEK FOR EURO French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to meet in Paris today to discuss the centralised control of Eurozon
Read moreLondon close: Stocks up 7.5% on the week on euro hopes
2nd Dec 2011 16:39
London's Footsie pared gains in the afternoon but still finished the day nearly 1% higher as easing fears over the Eurozone crisis kept the blue chip index firmly in positive territory. Despite closing some 50 points below the best levels of the day, the Footsie has gained 7.49% over the last week,
Read moreSector movers: Banks jump, defensives sold
2nd Dec 2011 15:55
The banking sector, a category typically sensitive to the outlook for the global economy - and more recently, developments in the Eurozone - was the best performing sector today, after comments from European leaders over 'fiscal union' helped to ease fears over the sovereign debt crisis. German Cha
Read moreLondon midday: Banks lead risers ahead of US jobs data
2nd Dec 2011 11:52
The Footsie was trading close to its highest levels of the day at midday as markets await a key jobs report from the US, which some are expecting to beat consensus forecasts. ALL EYES ON THE JOBS REPORT The US Labor Department will release its monthly employment report at 13:30, in which analysts
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