London close: US surge extends Footsie's winning streak
23rd Jul 2009 16:32
Footsie's winning streak extended to nine days as US markets surged ahead on better than expected June home sales and forecast-busting results from a number of US household names. Trading had been quiet up until mid-afternoon, but as soon as the US markets started to pick up buyers returned in earn
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie regains 4,500
23rd Jul 2009 13:46
The Footsie's eight day winning streak looks set to become nine days as the blue chip index hit 4,500 again amid more gains for US stocks. On the positive side, miners Fresnillo, Kazakhmys, Vedanta Resources, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, ENRC, Xstrata and Lonmin are all among the top ten risers on hope
Read moreLondon midday: OfWat report dilutes equity strength
23rd Jul 2009 11:54
The Footsie's eight day winning streak is in danger of coming to an end today as utility companies weigh down the blue-chip index after water regulator Ofwat outlined proposals for lower water bills. The water regulator's draft proposals would see the average annual water bill fall by £14 to £330 b
Read moreLondon open: Water groups fall
23rd Jul 2009 08:17
London's top stocks have opened slightly lower, with utilities among the main fallers after Ofwat called for lower water bills. The water regulator outlined proposals that would see the average water bill fall by £14 to £330 before inflation between 2010 and 2015. United Utilities is leading the fa
Read moreLondon pre-open: More gains expected
23rd Jul 2009 07:43
Footsie is expected to continue its winning streak to move past 4,500 points as investors digest a stream of company updates. Bus and rail group National Express confirmed that it has received a second approach after rival FirstGroup walked away from a possible deal last night. "The group received
Read moreScottish & Southern on course for growth
23rd Jul 2009 07:04
Power supplier Scottish & Southern Energy said it is on course to achieve moderate profit growth for the year despite distributing less electricity in the three months to June 30. The firm distributed 9.4TWh (terawatt-hours) of electricity in the quarter, compared with 9.9TWh over the same period t
Read moreLondon midday: Shares pause for breath
22nd Jul 2009 12:07
Leading shares are mixed, with losses on miners and banks offset by gains on defensive favourites such as tobaccos and utilities. Mining giant BHP Billiton set the tone for the sector with its annual production report this morning. Quarterly (Apr-Jun) production increased for 12 major commodities
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: UK debt, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland
22nd Jul 2009 06:19
The cash eaten up by interest payments on Government debt will more than double in the next four years as investors take fright at Britain's ballooning budget deficit, the country's leading independent forecaster has warned. Within four years, almost 9p in every pound of tax paid by British individ
Read moreSector movers: Vodafone climbs amid talk of bid for T-Mobile
29th Jun 2009 09:55
Vodafone is lifting the mobile telecommunications sector higher amid talk it is mulling a bid for T-Mobile UK, the British wireless unit of Deutsche Telekom, according to press reports. The Financial Times is quoting people familiar with the situation as saying that the company is considering makin
Read moreBrendan Murtagh cuts Kingspan stake
10th Jun 2009 16:53
A surge in the share price to a seven-month high has convinced Kingspan Group co-founder and director Brendan Murtagh to cash in part of his stake. Murtagh, who along with elder brother Eugene set up the Irish insulation board maker in 1972, sold 500,000 shares at €4.75 each, netting €2.4m. The sh
Read moreRoditi raises PGI stake to 74%
3rd Jun 2009 17:15
Director Nick Roditi of PGI Group, which operates a property management division in Russia and a food group in Southern Africa, has raised his stake to nearly 74%. Roditi acquired 5.7m shares at a price of 8p each, hiking his stake to 93m shares, which is 73.6% of the group. Top Director Buys
Read moreSunday tips round-up: SSE, Compass, Tate & Lyle
24th May 2009 10:17
Shares in Scottish & Southern Energy are not going to leap and make you rich. There is likely to be a slow progression in its share price. There is one reason and one reason alone to hold the shares - and that is for a steady income stream and because of its commitment to a progressive dividend, S
Read moreFriday tips round-up: JJB Sports, Shanks, Investec
22nd May 2009 06:43
JJB Sports executive chairman, Sir David Jones, reckons the only thing now standing in the way of a return to health for JJB is if he and his team "cock it up". Sir David, who says it will take at least a year before JJB gets the right stock on its shelves, does not rule out a rights issue to furt
Read moreLondon close: Downgrade threat sinks Footsie
21st May 2009 16:35
Footsie closed with triple-digit fall as investors got spooked by fears that the UK may lose its triple-A credit rating. Credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's said: 'We have revised the outlook on the UK to negative due to our view that, even assuming additional fiscal tightening, the net general
Read moreLondon afternoon: Decline picks up pace
21st May 2009 14:36
The Footsie is nursing a triple-digit fall as investors bail out of equities, spooked by fears that the UK may lose its triple-A credit rating. Credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's said: 'We have revised the outlook on the UK to negative due to our view that, even assuming additional fiscal tigh
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