FTSE 250 movers: Miners track metals prices higher
27th May 2011 14:37
Russia-focused gold miner Petropavlovsk and Finland-focused nickel and zinc miner Talvivaara Mining Company are tracking metals prices higher. They are among the best performing stocks on the FTSE 250 on Friday afternoon. The consumer confidence index for the UK unexpectedly jumped in May, accordin
Read moreLondon midday: Banks provide a boost
27th May 2011 12:05
The Footsie is around 1% higher at the midday point, holding on to early gains. The banking sector is performing well today after positive comments from Citigroup. The US bank upped its rating on European banks to 'overweight', saying that the recent decline in the share prices provides a good entr
Read moreLondon open: Miners and banks head a strong start
27th May 2011 08:28
The Footsie has started strongly, rising over 1% as the index climbs above the 5,900 level. The miners are in demand, with Lonmin, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Kazakhmys heading higher. The latter announced this morning that it's proposed listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange will not involve the issu
Read moreSweet profits at Tate & Lyle
27th May 2011 07:44
Food ingredients group Tate & Lyle managed to offset reduced selling prices for its SPLENDA Sucralose brand to grow sales by 7% in the year ended 31 March, while profits surged. Group revenue grew from £2.53bn to £2.72bn, beating broker estimates of around £2.6bn. Bulk Ingredients grew by 10%, whil
Read moreFriday preview: Tate and Lyle, Electrocomponents
26th May 2011 17:57
We have become used to companies grumbling about rising raw material prices, but those grumbles are often music to the ears of food ingredients firm Tate & Lyle. In a trading update at the end of March the company said that operating performance over the company's full year had been in line with
Read moreLondon close: Shares in late dive
31st Mar 2011 17:19
A late dive sent London's top share index firmly into the red ahead of the close having been flat all day ahead of Ireland's banking stress test. Ireland's central bank said the ailing economy's banks need €24bn (£21bn) to stay afloat. Gold miner Randgold Resources was the star performer in the m
Read moreLondon afternoon: Weak retailers offset strong miners
31st Mar 2011 14:41
Footsie is stuck in neutral, though the flat performance is largely down to strong demand for mining stocks. Gold miner Randgold Resrouces is the star performer in the mining sector after reporting a 55 increase in its attributable mineral resources and reserves for the year to December 2010. T
Read moreLondon midday: Shares fall back
31st Mar 2011 12:18
Shares have slipped into negative territory after a stuttering start on another bad day for the retailers. Tour operator TUI Travel is higher after saying underlying trading has been "satisfactory" during the last six months. Like Thomas Cook on Tuesday, it has not changed its estimate of the cost
Read moreTate & Lyle continues encouraging performance
31st Mar 2011 07:23
Food ingredients firm Tate & Lyle said that operating performance in the year to end-March was in line with market expectations, save for the company receiving a late boost to co-product income from the rise in corn prices. The group has seen global volume growth in Speciality Food Ingredients acr
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Inflation, Barclays, BHP Billiton...
13th Feb 2011 11:14
Inflation is set to soar to 4% this week, increasing the chances of an early hike in interest rates and forcing the Bank of England to admit it has again underestimated the extent of rising prices. Economists expect the January inflation figures, unveiled on Tuesday, to show the Vat increase and ro
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Imperial Tobacco, Sage, ICAP...
3rd Feb 2011 06:44
There has been a shortage of good news for investors in Imperial Tobacco and other cigarette makers. Shares in the sector were hit recently by claims that the habit could die out within 40 years. There is little sign of that in Imperial's latest figures. Imperial plans to raise the ratio of earning
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Amec, Carillion, Autonomy...
2nd Feb 2011 06:47
Exploration and production spending by oil companies is expected to increase significantly in 2011 - with analysts predicting investment could rise by as much as a fifth. This is an opportunity for Amec. Any M&A activity could be a catalyst for the shares to outperform. The shares are trading on a
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars as Egypt worries ease
1st Feb 2011 16:51
Well-received company updates, strong economic figures here and elsewhere and an easing of worries related to the situation in Egypt helped UK shares to strong gains. Miners led the advance, after strong growth in manufacturing in commodity hungry China in January. The UK, eurozone and US also had
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners and techs in demand
1st Feb 2011 14:15
Shares added to the morning's gains over the lunchtime session, buoyed by the prospect of a firm start on Wall Street. Miners lead the advance, after strong growth in Chinese manufacturing in January, though technology stocks are also in demand. Mining giant Xstrata produced more coking coal, sem
Read moreLondon midday: Shares add more gains
1st Feb 2011 12:07
Shares have moved higher following a decent start this morning, with upbeat company statements spurring buying interest. Strong growth in Chinese manufacturing and hopes of a peaceful resolution to the Egyptian crisis have also cheered investors. Here, the UK manufacturing purchasing managers' inde
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