London midday: Share prices steady down
30th Nov 2009 12:09
UK share prices are stabilising at lower levels after hopes of a continued rebound from the Dubai-inspired shake-out on Thursday were quashed by disappointing UK consumer confidence figures. Figures from market research firm Gfk NOP showed consumer sentiment fell to -17 from -13 in October. Middle
Read moreLondon open: Footsie wobbles on Dubai slump
30th Nov 2009 08:36
News of heavy selling in the Middle East, which began trading for the first time today following the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid, had markets in retreat Monday. Futures prices had indicated an early 30-point gain for London after Asian markets rallied on expectations the potential fallout from t
Read moreThomas Cook profits beat expectations
30th Nov 2009 07:04
Pre-tax profits were ahead of expectations in the year to September 30 at Thomas Cook, as the travel operator increased ticket prices to cope with falling customer numbers. The company posted an adjusted pre-tax profit of £308.2m, down slightly from £309.3m the previous year, as revenues climbed t
Read moreLondon pre-open: Rally to continue
30th Nov 2009 06:56
The recovery from Thursday's Dubai drubbing looks set to continue, with dealers predicting the FTSE 100 will open around 30 points higher. Pre-tax profits were ahead of expectations in the year to September 30 at travel operator Thomas Cook, as the increased ticket prices to cope with falling custo
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Dubai, Yell, Banks
29th Nov 2009 12:08
Abu Dhabi is this weekend putting together a rescue package for Dubai, its debt-laden Gulf neighbour, in an attempt to restore calm in panicked international markets, according to the Sunday Times. The FT adds that Dubai's government is preparing a campaign to persuade the holders of a bond due for
Read moreWeek Ahead: Thomas Cook, TUI, Sage
27th Nov 2009 11:33
Package tour giants Thomas Cook and TUI Travel are both set to declare full year results next week. It has not been a great year in terms of demand for expensive foreign holidays but both companies have cut capacity in anticipation of reduced demand, plus there were signs of a last minute rush to
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 closes 32 points lower
24th Nov 2009 16:48
London ended the day in the red as the FTSE 100 lost its earlier gains after Wall Street opened sharply lower. London did not sustain a short-lived rally in the late afternoon. The market seemed to initially ignore Bank of England governor Mervyn King's cautious comments to the House of Commons Tr
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares still drifting
24th Nov 2009 14:31
London continues to lack direction, with Bank of England governor Mervyn King's comments to the House of Commons Treasury select committee on the state of the economy having more of an effect on sterling than on share prices. With sterling dipping after King's comments, package holiday firms Thomas
Read moreLondon afternoon: Equities drift lower
20th Nov 2009 22:49
Around two thirds of the Footsie's constituents are in the red today as the blue-chip index looks set to finish the week lower than it started it. US bank Morgan Stanley has rained on the parade of package tour operators Thomas Cook and TUI Travel. The bank has cut its rating on both stocks, prompt
Read moreBroker tips: Travel companies, Intertek, Fuller's
20th Nov 2009 21:21
Package tour giants Thomas Cook and TUI Travel were the two worst performing blue-chip stocks on Friday morning after Morgan Stanley downgraded both stocks. Thomas Cook has been cut to 'underweight' from 'equal weight' and its price target chopped to 230p from 270p, while TUI Travel has been downgr
Read moreBroker snap: Package tour companies downgraded
20th Nov 2009 21:04
Package tour giants Thomas Cook and TUI Travel were the two worst performing blue-chip stocks on Friday morning after Morgan Stanley downgraded both stocks. Thomas Cook has been cut to 'underweight' from 'equal weight' and its price target chopped to 230p from 270p, while TUI Travel has been downgr
Read moreLondon close: Volatile Footsie closes lower
20th Nov 2009 16:34
Footsie ended slightly in the red after a topsy-turvy day which saw UK shares at the mercy of the US dollar. Shares in miner Antofagasta resumed their position near the top of the leaderboard after a brief dip into negative territory that came as commodity prices slipped in line with strength in th
Read moreLondon midday: Holiday firms in the shade
20th Nov 2009 12:11
Leading shares lack direction, with Footsie's early advance turning into a retreat, as early gains on mining stocks are pared. The outlook for package tour operators Thomas Cook and TUI Travel is as miserable as London's weather, according to US bank Morgan Stanley, which has cut its rating on both
Read moreLondon open: Miners lift Footsie again
20th Nov 2009 08:51
After yesterday's shake-out, London's leading shares have started on a bright note. Miners are leading the way. They are essentially proxies for movements in the dollar at present. The US currency falls, miners go up and vice versa. The miners are up today as the dollar has dropped back from yester
Read moreLondon close: Best finish in 12½ months
12th Oct 2009 16:48
UK share prices finished at their best levels in over a year Monday and, despite a few sellers appearing late on, the FTSE 100 ended the session above 5,200. Insurers Old Mutual, Standard Life and Legal & General were in demand all day. Rising stock markets are always good news for their investment
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