Disappointment as Ofgem postpones price review
21st Dec 2009 12:24
National Grid is 'disappointed' with today's decision by Ofgem to postpone the next transmission price control review (TPCR5) for a year until 2013. The energy regulator said Monday it will extend the 2007-2012 gas and electricity transmission price control by one year so that it will now run until
Read moreLondon open: Footsie shrugs off bank weakness
18th Dec 2009 08:45
London's blue chips have opened higher despite another weak showing from the banks after harsher than expected recommendations from the Basel Committee yesterday. Shares in all four fell heavily yesterday on the news and Barclays, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered are all lower
Read moreBroker tips: Admiral, Britvic, SSE
8th Dec 2009 17:31
Morgan Stanley sees Admiral hitting a sweet spot and raised its price target for the car insurer by 6% to 1,344p. The broker reiterates its 'overweight' stance on Admiral, citing the group's improving underwriting margins, its growth as policyholders shop around more and improved profit commission
Read moreLondon close: Lower finish for FTSE 100
7th Dec 2009 16:59
Footsie staged a recovery after a poor start early on and edged into positive territory in the afternoon but closed slightly lower. Rumours of a windfall tax in Wednesday's pre-Budget report rattled the banks. Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking, Barclays and HSBC fell on suggestions that the Ch
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks slide on tax fears
7th Dec 2009 14:39
Leading shares recouped some of their losses over the lunchtime trading session but the Footsie remains in negative territory, largely due to the weakness of banks and miners. Rumours of a windfall tax in Wednesday's pre-Budget report has rattled the banks. Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking, B
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie rally fizzles out
7th Dec 2009 12:07
Footsie is going nowhere at present with the banks and miners sending the leading share index lower. Miners are under pressure with the improvement in the dollar. Better than expected US non-farm payroll figures last week have sparked speculation that the US could start to tighten monetary policy s
Read moreLondon open: Poor start for blue chips
7th Dec 2009 08:45
UK shares have given ground in early dealings after a mixed performance in the US on Friday. Miners are under pressure with the improvement in the dollar as the better than expected US non-farm payroll figure has sparked speculation that the US could start to tighten monetary policy sooner than pr
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to start lower
7th Dec 2009 07:34
UK shares look set to give up a little ground first thing Monday in reaction to a dip in form on Wall Street after London closed on Friday. The Dow Jones had traded a three-figure gain for much of its morning session following a sparkling set of jobs numbers, but saw its lead trimmed later as the d
Read moreOfgem warns gas suppliers on prices
7th Dec 2009 07:18
UK energy regulator, Ofgem, has warned gas suppliers that prices charges to households must come down if the price of wholesale gas continues to fall. "Ofgem's role is to ensure that companies can invest, but do not use investment as a shameful excuse to overcharge consumers," Alistair Buchanan, th
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Dubai, Yell, Banks
29th Nov 2009 12:08
Abu Dhabi is this weekend putting together a rescue package for Dubai, its debt-laden Gulf neighbour, in an attempt to restore calm in panicked international markets, according to the Sunday Times. The FT adds that Dubai's government is preparing a campaign to persuade the holders of a bond due for
Read moreLondon afternoon: Trading resumes .. so does the decline
26th Nov 2009 14:18
Trading resumed on the London Stock Exchange at 2:00pm after the exchange's technical glitch, but prices are not looking any healthier than they were before the trading interruption. Banks are under the cosh on concerns over Dubai's debt situation. The government owned Dubai World, which has debts
Read moreLondon midday: Trading suspended on LSE
26th Nov 2009 12:07
Banks shares are leading the market lower today as investors fret about the debt situation in Dubai. The government owned Dubai World, which has debts of $59bn, has asked creditors if it can delay debt repayments due next month until May of next year. HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Lloyds
Read moreLondon close: Four-day rally is over
17th Nov 2009 16:31
The leading index finished near its worst levels of the session as weaker banks and mining heavyweights brought a 4-day winning streak to an end. The dollar's bounce off Monday's 15-month low hurt metal prices. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said last night that the Fed will conduct policy i
Read moreSector movers: Intelek bucks the trend
17th Nov 2009 14:16
Shares in communications electronics group Intelek fall after it reported a drop in first half profits but said it remains confident in the future of the group. Curiously though, the technology hardware and equipment sector is one of today's heaviest falling sectors, with Pace, the set-top box maker
Read moreLondon close: Profit taking trims gains
11th Nov 2009 17:12
Better than expected unemployment figures and some relatively upbeat comments from Bank of England governor Mervyn King propelled Footsie to a new intra-day high for 2009 in the morning session, but stocks came off the top in the afternoon session. The UK unemployment rate, as measured by the Inter
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