Sector movers: Banks fall as government starts Lloyds sell-down
17th Sep 2013 14:36
Banking stocks were among the worst performers in London on Tuesday with Lloyds sinking after the government began to sell-off its stake in the lender five years after its state bailout back in 2008. The UK Financial Investments, the company that manages the government's investments in Lloyds and f
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Lloyds, Petrofac, Optimal payments
17th Sep 2013 08:36
The government is a bit late to the party but the first step in the winding down of its stake in Lloyds should be welcome. In particular, it is a positive that it finally opted for a placing among institutional investors, rather than an initial public offering [IPO] or convoluted share giveaway, as
Read moreLondon close: Stocks jump to four-week high as Syria concerns ease
10th Sep 2013 16:40
The FTSE 100 jumped to a four-week high on Tuesday as investors' fears of an impending US military strike on Syria eased and the economic outlook for China improved. London's benchmark index finished 53.25 points higher at 6,583.99, a gain of 0.82%; the last time it closed higher was on August 14th
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: easyJet leaps on CEO interview
10th Sep 2013 14:39
easyJet shares are firmly on the rise, extending yesterday's gain of around one per cent. The company has said it's geared up to take on other low-cost airlines across Europe, saying it expects other airlines will have difficulty in embracing a no-frills style. It said the loss of as many as 86m sho
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 nears one-month high
10th Sep 2013 11:39
Receding fears about a potential US military strike on Syria and decent data from China lifted UK stocks on Thursday morning, with the FTSE 100 rising to levels not seen in nearly a month. London's benchmark index was up 0.8% at 6,581.91 by midday; the last time it closed higher was on August 14th
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 at three-week high after policy meetings
5th Sep 2013 17:03
A host of central-bank policy meetings, a dovish tone from Mario Draghi and the continued improvement in US economic data helped lift stocks higher on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 closing at levels not seen in three weeks. London's benchmark index ended the day up 57.7 points at 6,532.44, its highes
Read moreSector movers: Banking stocks lead risers in London
5th Sep 2013 14:05
Banking stocks were the highest risers on Thursday as markets reacted positively to a number of central-bank policy decisions across the globe. The Bank of England, European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Japan all decided to keep monetary policy on hold over the last 24 hours. A close eye was kept
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks trim gains, BoE holds rates
5th Sep 2013 11:27
After a strong start for UK stocks, the FTSE 100 pared gains by lunchtime as nervousness set in ahead of a number of risk events that have the potential to spark some volatile moves on financial markets. Risk appetite was also scaled back ahead of the G20 meeting which begins in St Petersburg today
Read moreLondon open: Stocks surge ahead of BoE, ECB meetings
5th Sep 2013 08:13
The FTSE 100 jumped strongly in early trading on Thursday as investor risk appetite increased ahead of policy decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) later on. The Bank of Japan meeting overnight was "a bit of a non-event", according to Market Analyst Craig Erla
Read moreTuesday broker round-up
3rd Sep 2013 11:13
ASOS: Exane increases target price from 5000p to 6000p and keeps an outperform rating. Associated British Foods: Exane upgrades to outperform with a target price of 2400p. Balfour Beatty: Berenberg ups target price from 270p to 300p and retains its buy recommendation. Barclays: Berenberg takes ta
Read moreBroker tips: StanChart, G4S, TalkTalk
3rd Sep 2013 11:10
Barclays has downgraded banking group Standard Chartered from 'overweight' to 'equalweight', citing its exposure to the emerging markets and growing risks in some geographies. "Although we leave our Standard Chartered earnings estimates unchanged and continue to believe that the shares offer value
Read moreBroker snap: Barclays downgrades StanChart on heightened EM risk
3rd Sep 2013 09:52
Barclays has downgraded banking group Standard Chartered from 'overweight' to 'equalweight', citing its exposure to the emerging markets and growing risks in some geographies. "Although we leave our Standard Chartered earnings estimates unchanged and continue to believe that the shares offer value
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Syria, Nationwide, HSBC
28th Aug 2013 07:09
Britain cannot stand idly by in the face of the morally indefensible use of chemical weapons, David Cameron said yesterday, as he laid out the case for a missile strike against Syria. The White House is preparing intelligence material, including intercepted communications, which it says will prove t
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Fresnillo, Randgold, Petrofac
27th Aug 2013 13:49
Precious metal companies Fresnillo and Randgold Resources gained as the prices of gold, silver and copper surged. Petrofac advanced as analysts at Liberum Capital said the weakness in shares and the oilfield services company's upbeat outlook presented a good buying opportunity. Marks & Spencer ra
Read moreLondon close: Markets finish lower despite late rally
20th Aug 2013 16:39
Markets slumped to a six-week low on Tuesday as investors trimmed positions and scaled back risk appetite ahead of minutes of the latest US policy meeting due out tomorrow. The FTSE 100 dropped to an intraday low of around 6,400 early on after a series of disappointing corporate earnings, but ralli
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