Flat start for FTSE as Eurozone GDP figures released
14th Feb 2014 07:14
- US data comes in below expectations - All eyes on Eurzone Q4 GDP figures - Flat state expected on FTSE A flat start is expected on today's FTSE as investors weigh up poor data from the US with expectations for today's Eurozone gross domestic product (GDP). Data out yesterday showed that US reta
Read moreSevern Trent water use rises but services profit set to fall
14th Feb 2014 07:00
Water company Severn Trent said customers were using more water, but warned that annual profits in its services business were likely to be lower than a year ago. Severn, which supplies 7.7m people in the Midlands and Wales, said consumption was slightly higher year-on-year, given current volumes.
Read moreSector movers: Utilities feeling the heat after criticism from Energy Secretary
10th Feb 2014 13:12
Utilities stocks were under selling pressure on Monday after the UK Energy Secretary raised concerns about profit margins at the country's largest energy companies. Shares in British Gas owner Centrica were the hardest hit after Ed Davey ordered a regulatory probe into high household bills and sugg
Read moreLondon close: Risk aversion moves up a notch, traders skittish
3rd Feb 2014 16:46
- US ISM manufacturing index surprises sharply on the downside, weather cited - Footsie finds supoort at 200-day moving average - Lloyds dives on PPI bill update, dividend plans - Chinese data just in line Market Movers techMARK 2,766.78 -0.29% FTSE 100 6,460.48 -0.77% FTSE 250 15,552.68 -0.78% Th
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners rise on strong updates
29th Jan 2014 15:10
Chilean miner Antofagasta raced to the top of the leaderboard today after it reported a record year of copper production for 2013, supported by a strong output performance in the fourth quarter and despite predictions 2014 production is set to drop. The stock was helped even higher after analysts at
Read moreFitch lowers outlook on UK water utilities to 'negative'
29th Jan 2014 14:23
Ratings agency Fitch has today lowered its outlook on the credit rating of UK water companies to 'negative' from 'stable' following the release of public regulator Ofwat's price review for the fiscal years running from 2015 to 2020 earlier this week. In the firm's opinion, Ofwat's more flexible ap
Read moreLondon close: Markets rebound after five-day losing streak
28th Jan 2014 16:38
- Markets finish higher, upside limited after Fed - UK GDP up 0.7 per cent in Q4 - Fund managers, banks lift markets higher techMARK 2,781.48 +0.71% FTSE 100 6,572.33 +0.33% FTSE 250 15,715.83 +1.21% UK markets registered small gains on Tuesday as stocks recovered after five straight days of losse
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Lloyds leads the risers
28th Jan 2014 14:46
Leading the upside was Lloyds Banking Group as the company announced progress with its plan to put it back on track for profitability. In line with a UK government objective of returning the bank to private ownership, it unveiled another round of planned job cuts. Water group Severn Trent continue
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 drops 1.7 per cent as sell-off continues
27th Jan 2014 16:45
- BG Group plummets on gloomy guidance - AT&T rules out Vodafone bid - RBS reveals more provisions for new claims - FTSE 100 at lowest since mid-December techMARK 2,761.91 -1.00% FTSE 100 6,550.66 -1.70% FTSE 250 15,528.21 -1.12% UK markets dropped to their lowest levels in nearly six weeks on Mon
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Takeover speculation drives utilities higher
27th Jan 2014 15:55
United Utilities and Severn Trent both climbed on takeover speculation, with the FT's Alphaville blog referencing rumours of a possible private equity bid out of Canada for either one. BSkyB was performing strongly ahead of Thursday's second quarter update, with investors stocking up amid M&A chat
Read moreSevern Trent and United Utilities rise on bid talk
27th Jan 2014 14:41
Water companies were floating higher on Monday amid reheated bid talk and better-than-expected guidance from regulators on how much slack companies would be cut in their investment plans. Severn Trent rose 1.49% to 1,703p, United Utilities jumped 2% to 714.5p and Pennon Group rose 0.29% to 681.5p b
Read moreLondon midday: BG Group drags FTSE 100 to six-week low
27th Jan 2014 11:23
- Stocks sink as EM-inspired sell-off continues - BG Group disappoints with 2014 guidance - AT&T quashes Vodafone bid rumours - ARM Chairman steps down, ITV downgraded techMARK 2,758.25 -1.13% FTSE 100 6,569.62 -1.41% FTSE 250 15,523.71 -1.14% UK stocks dropped to their lowest levels in nearly six
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: ECB, Vodafone, Rolls Royce
27th Jan 2014 06:35
Mario Draghi has signalled that he would be prepared for the European Central Bank to fight deflation in Europe by buying packages of bank loans to households and companies. Such a move would mark a sharp departure from traditional quantitative easing and provide a potential fix to the collapse in b
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Supermarkets' property, Lloyds, UBM
26th Jan 2014 16:51
US activist investors are plotting to force Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons to split off their property holdings, the Sunday Times reported. The plan, led by activist fund Elliott, would require them to put their property holdings into separate companies and to sell minority stakes on the stock exc
Read moreBroker snap: Credit Suisse downgrades Severn Trent after of Ofwat, dividend at risk
23rd Jan 2014 11:14
Credit Suisse has downgraded its rating for Severn Trent from 'neutral' to 'underperform' and cut its target price from 1,580p to 1,540p ahead of the Ofwat regulatory price review that will set prices for 2015-20. The review, which concludes on January 27th, will set a so-called 'vanilla' weighted
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