London afternoon: Footsie still seeking direction
8th Mar 2010 14:56
Footsie continues sitting around the 5,600 point mark as shares pause for breath following last week's good gains. Oil fabrications giant Petrofac is today's major bright spot after it made a bit more than expected last year, with after tax profit up 37%, and hiked the dividend by an impressive 41%
Read moreSThree sees 'meaningful improvement'
8th Mar 2010 08:11
Recruiter SThree's first quarter gross profit declined by 27% year on year to about £36m, though the current deal pipeline indicates improvements across most markets. "The first quarter deal pipeline gross profit is up 12.6% year on year and within the quarter deal pipeline gross profit is on an i
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Ryanair, Xstrata, Cranswick
2nd Feb 2010 06:54
Fares on flights will have to rise if the company is going to hit its targets, that's the warning issued by Michael O'Leary's Ryanair yesterday. This is, obviously, better news for investors than it is for its customers. Currently, 11% of intra-European traffic is transported on the Ryanair fleet a
Read moreSThree profits sink, but signs of improvement
1st Feb 2010 07:31
SThree's profit plunged during 2009, but the recruitment firm said the trend of improvement in some markets and stability in others had continued into 2010. Profit before tax and exceptional items for the year ended 29 November slumped 68% to £18m and was down 83.5% after exceptional items. Revenue
Read moreLondon close: Rate rise fears fuel late slide
4th Dec 2009 17:17
Euphoria over the better than expected US jobless figures proved short-lived as week-end profit taking took hold and miners headed underground. Metal prices weakened in the afternoon session, taking mining stocks with them, as some pundits suggested that with the better than expected jobless figure
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks bounce into the blue after US jobs
4th Dec 2009 14:20
Share prices have surged higher as the keenly watched US monthly jobs figures showed a big drop in the number losing their jobs and an unexpected drop in the level of US unemployment. Miners are leading the rally with Rio Tinto the best performer. Other gainers include ENRC and oil explorer Cairn E
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Berkeley falls back
4th Dec 2009 13:36
Berkeley is the heaviest faller after fewer sales and lower prices sent profits at the London and south-east focused housebuilder tumbling in the latest six months. Housebuilder Bellway slips even after saying ales volumes for the first six months to 31 January 2010 will be 10% better than the same
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks treading water
4th Dec 2009 12:17
Share prices are stabilising at lower levels as investors wait on the big US jobless announcement due at 1:30pm. Banks are on the back foot after a lukewarm note on the sector from JP Morgan. The US bank is particularly down on part-nationalised bank Royal Bank of Scotland, which it advises its cli
Read moreLondon open: Weak start for blue chips
4th Dec 2009 08:45
Footsie has fallen back in early dealings after a dip in the US last night while the bank bonus row has spread to Lloyds. Shares in Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland are both under pressure. A report in the Times this morning suggested 200 Lloyds executives will get a bonus of 80% of their salary f
Read moreSThree sees some stability return
4th Dec 2009 07:45
Recruiter SThree confirmed profits will tumble this year, though it says conditions have started to stabilise. Full year gross profit will be about £168m, down 23% year on year (2008: £218.9m). Year end net cash will be about £48m (2008: £24.6m), while the days sales outstanding improved to 37 da
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: SThree climbs after peer updates
9th Oct 2009 14:37
Recruiter SThree is one today's best performing mid-cap stocks at the end of a busy week for the sector. Robert Walters today said it saw net fee income slump by 29% in the third quarter but reports some improvements, especially in banking and in Asia, though visibility overall remains limited. Si
Read moreLondon close: Footsie rebounds past 5,000
11th Sep 2009 16:53
Footsie went into the weekend with the 5,000 point level in its rear-view mirror as miners advanced. Silver miner Fresnillo, copper group Antofagasta and platinum specialist Lonmin were among the best performers. Hedge fund giant Man Group also went well helped by the rising markets. British Airwa
Read moreLondon afternoon: Blue chips power on
11th Sep 2009 14:16
Footsie has had another good day with demand for the miners again providing the momentum. Silver miner Fresnillo, copper group Antofagasta and platinum specialist Lonmin are among the best performers. Hedge fund giant Man Group is also going well helped by the rising markets. British Airways conti
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie stays ahead
11th Sep 2009 12:08
Footsie remains on the front foot, with miners still in the driving seat. Silver miner Fresnillo, copper group Antofagasta and platinum specialist Lonmin are among the best performers today. British Airways continues its recent ascent. The airline's shares are up again today making a near 20% rise
Read moreLondon open: Footsie opens strongly
11th Sep 2009 08:44
London's blue chips opened comfortably higher with buyers encouraged by indices in the US hitting new highs for the year. Miners remain the driving force behind the London market's recent surge. It is second-liners Fresnillo and Antofagasta that are the best performers today on hopes that economic
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