London midday: FTSE continues retreat from record highs as mining stocks decline
4th Mar 2015 11:55
UK stocks were falling for the fourth straight day on Wednesday after a batch of mixed corporate earnings and global economic data. The FTSE 100 was down 0.32% at 6,866.94 by midday, on track for its lowest close since 16 February, with mining giants Fresnillo and Glencore providing a drag. Stocks
Read moreBroker tips: StanChart, Barclays, ITV, Rightmove
4th Mar 2015 11:38
Standard Chartered's annual results missed analysts' forecasts by a long way on Wednesday, though the market gave a warm welcome to the 2014 report with Shore Capital choosing to keep its 'buy' recommendation. Analyst Gary Greenwood said: "The introduction of more aggressive action on costs and capi
Read moreWednesday broker round-up
4th Mar 2015 10:16
Electrocomponents: Peel Hunt takes up to a buy. Pearson: Morgan Stanley keeps at overweight, target reiterated at 1,500p. StanChart: Shore Capital stays at buy. Moneysupermarket: UBS lifts to buy, raises target to 260p from 240p. Rightmove: Citi raises to neutral. Barclays: Deutsche keeps at buy
Read moreStanChart earnings disappoint, but ShoreCap stays at 'buy' on positive outlook
4th Mar 2015 10:13
Standard Chartered's annual results missed analysts' forecasts by a long way on Wednesday, though the market gave a warm welcome to the 2014 report with Shore Capital choosing to keep its 'buy' recommendation. The broker's Gary Greenwood highlighted that while profits came in well shy of expectation
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip on mixed earnings, Fresnillo and L&G drop
4th Mar 2015 08:23
UK stocks edged lower on Wednesday morning as gains from Standard Chartered and ITV were offset by declines by Fresnillo, Glencore and Legal & General, as investors awaited a barrage of economic data. Following a brief spell in positive territory, the FTSE 100 had fallen 0.2% to 6,875.90 after the f
Read moreStanChart takes hit from loan provisions, challenging markets
4th Mar 2015 08:19
Emerging markets-focused lender Standard Chartered was rocked by rising loan impairments at its Corporate and Institutional and Commercial Clients unit and asset disposals last year. The challenging market environment and the need to de-risk its balance sheet added to the bank's woes, StanChart said
Read moreWednesday preview: Standard Chartered reports full-year results amid CEO departure
3rd Mar 2015 14:10
Standard Chartered is expected to report a decline in full-year earnings, reflecting an increase in impairments. Consensus forecasts point to $5.73bn of adjusted pre-tax profit, down from $6.95bn the previous year. Numis said it predicts total impairments of $2.07bn, up from $1.6bn in 2013. The bro
Read moreLondon close: Stocks inch lower as US data comes in mixed
27th Feb 2015 16:43
Despite setting a new intraday record just before the close, the FTSE 100 finished just a few points lower on Friday as investors took profits after a batch of mixed economic data from the States. The Footsie ended the session down 3.07 points at 6,946.66, down just 0.04% from the all-time closing h
Read moreSector movers: Lloyds and StanChart gain but banking sector edges lower
27th Feb 2015 15:14
The UK banking sector was slightly lower on Friday as well-received results from Lloyds and decent gains from Standard Chartered were offset by falls in the share prices of RBS, HSBC and Barclays. The sector was down around 0.5% on average. UK lender Lloyds was trading 1.1% higher despite 2014 resu
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: IAG soars on higher operating earnings, Intu properties drops on lower rents
27th Feb 2015 14:56
British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines flew to the top of the risers after reporting operating earnings 80.5% higher at £1.4bn for 2014, thanks partly to cheaper fuel, while its Iberia division swung from a loss to a profit. Chief executive Willie Walsh said the Spanish unit's "tu
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Greek bailout, Ukraine gas, National Rail
27th Feb 2015 07:04
Germany is expected to approve a new bailout deal for Greece on Friday, The Telegraph reported. Ukraine has refused to pay for more gas deliveries to Russia, arguing that Gazprom only supplied 40% of the order it promised, The Times wrote. National Rail chief executive Mark Carne has condemned the
Read moreLondon close: FTSE edges higher to new record close
26th Feb 2015 16:48
London's FTSE 100 managed to inch higher to a new record high on Thursday as improving economic data across Europe and positive developments in Ukraine boosted markets after a slow start. The UK benchmark index finished the day up 14.35 points at a new closing high of 6,949.73, up 0.2% on the day an
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Standard Chartered soars on new CEO, RBS dips after missing forecasts
26th Feb 2015 14:16
Standard Chartered surged after appointing former JPMorgan boss Bill Winters as its new chief executive, as it confirmed current head Peter Sands will step down in June. The bank also announced that chairman John Peace will step down in 2016. Mining stocks were on the rise as metal prices improved,
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks holding steady on a busy day
26th Feb 2015 12:20
UK stock markets were rangebound on Thursday morning on a busy day for corporate earnings and economic data, as investors maintained a cautious approach following the record peaks reached earlier in the week. London's FTSE 100 was up just 0.04% at 6,938.10 by midday, trading within a narrow range of
Read moreBroker tips: RBS, Standard Chartered, Domino's Pizza
26th Feb 2015 12:01
Investec has retained a 'sell' rating on RBS after 2014 results from the UK banking group missed market forecasts, saying that the stock's valuation was too expensive. "RBS has now achieved a seventh successive year of heavy reported losses (2008-2014 inclusive) and we expect only a 'breakeven' perf
Read more