London afternoon: Experian provides isolated cheer
19th May 2010 14:13
Leading shares trimmed their losses over the lunchtime session but the predominant colour on the Footsie leaderboard remains red. Mining companies lead the retreat on fears that Germany's decision to impose an immediate ban on "naked short selling" of euro-denominated government bonds and also cred
Read moreLondon midday: Markets on short fuse
19th May 2010 12:20
Water utility company Severn Trent was the only FTSE 100 constituent to advance during the morning session, as all of the others ended the morning underwater. If the move by Germany's financial regulator to impose an immediate ban on "naked short selling" of corporate debt last night was intended t
Read moreLondon open: Footsie lower on German moves
19th May 2010 08:56
Footsie is lower, but predictions of a bloodbath as investors react to last night's decision by German authorities to act against short-sellers have proved too dramatic. US markets fell heavily on the news, but the reaction from traders last night was more of bewilderment at how German authorities
Read moreSSE profit rises 3%
19th May 2010 07:04
Scottish & Southern Energy has increased full-year underlying profit by 3%, in line with expectations, and added a quarter of a million new energy customers during the period. The UK's second-biggest electricity producer reported adjusted profit before tax rose to £1.29bn in the year ended March 20
Read moreWednesday preview: Mitchells & Butlers, Speedy Hire, ICAP
18th May 2010 16:14
Pub group Mitchells & Butlers recently decided to concentrate on its core food brands after a strategic review. Broker KBC upgraded its FY2010E pre-tax to £155m and EPS to 27p, and FY2011E to £180m/31p on the back of the review. Plant hire specialist Speedy Hire's will report its year-end figures o
Read moreSSE buys 15% BiFab stake
12th Apr 2010 11:18
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), has bought a 15% stake in Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) for a total consideration of £11m. In addition to the equity stake, SSE's renewable development division has secured an agreement with BiFab for the supply of at least 50 jacket substructures annually t
Read moreLondon close: Footsie bounds ahead
1st Apr 2010 16:57
London's blue chips moved forward again with miners and resource stocks driving the index upwards ahead of the Easter break. Footsie is now up by over 6% since the start of the year and by 45% over the past 12 months. Miners and oil companies were lifted as manufacturing activity accelerated in C
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie rise continues
1st Apr 2010 15:26
London's blue chips are being dragged forward by the US, which has opened very strongly ahead of the Easter break. Miners and oil companies continue to do well after manufacturing activity accelerated in China, while confidence in the Japanese manufacturing sector also improved. Xstrata, Randgold
Read moreSSE buys Hess assets for $423m
1st Apr 2010 07:30
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has agreed to buy the natural gas assets and infrastructure assets of Hess in three regions of the North Sea for $423m. The deal is subject to the receipt of all necessary partner and regulatory approvals. The total gas and liquid resources which SSE is acquirin
Read moreLondon close: Up and down day for London
31st Mar 2010 17:07
The movements of the blue-chip index looked like they were being directed by the grand old Duke of York on Wednesday, with the market finishing neither up nor down. British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) was predictably outraged at the decision by telecoms regulator Ofcom to order it to make its two top
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie slides into negative territory
31st Mar 2010 14:09
After a bright start London has turned lower in the afternoon session in anticipation of a weak start on Wall Street. Televised sport is big news on the trading screens as telecoms regulator Ofcom ordered BSkyB to make its two top sports channels available to rivals at a 23% discount to the curren
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie drifts lower
31st Mar 2010 12:17
Footsie is now flat as investors digest a big morning for company announcements. Televised sport is big news on the trading screens as telecoms regulator Ofcom ordered BSkyB to make its two top sports channels available to rivals at a 23% discount to the current price. This was a bigger cut than
Read moreLondon open: BSkyB shrugs off Ofcom attack
31st Mar 2010 08:49
Footsie is higher in early dealings as investors digest updates from food-related stocks and big news for televised sports. Telecoms regulator Ofcom is on a collision course with BSkyB after it ordered the satellite broadcaster to make its two top sports channels available to rivals at a 23% discou
Read moreLondon pre-open: Slow start expected
31st Mar 2010 07:37
A subdued start is expected from Footsie in early dealings as investors digest updates from food-related stocks. Telecoms regulator Ofcom is on a collision course with BSkyB after it ordered the satellite broadcaster to make its two top sports channels available to rivals at a 23% discount to the c
Read moreSSE secures £400m EIB loan facility
31st Mar 2010 07:11
SSE Renewables, the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has secured a £400m loan facility from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to help finance the development of renewable energy schemes in the UK and Ireland. The EIB funding takes the total funding whic
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