London open: Dull start for Footsie
12th Aug 2009 08:45
London's leading share index is in reverse gear again as the banks drift lower with miners also weak after BHP Billiton's figures and four Rio executives being charged with bribery by China. Full-year profits have halved at miner BHP Billiton as the recession slashed volumes and sent prices tumbli
Read moreLondon close: Stocks pushed lower
5th Aug 2009 17:00
London's top stocks finished in the red as a poor start in the US and ex-dividends eventually ate into the early gains. US shares made a dull start on worse than expected job losses in July according to the private firm ADP. It said 371,000 people were laid-off compared to estimates of 350,000. L
Read moreLondon afternoon: Blue chips hang onto gains
5th Aug 2009 14:27
Footsie is holding its own in the afternoon session with Lloyds soaring despite a massive interim loss. US shares have made a dull start on worse than expected job losses in July according to the private firm ADP. It said 371,000 people were laid-off compared to estimates of 350,000. The survey is
Read moreLondon midday: Lloyds pulls Footsie higher
5th Aug 2009 11:24
Footsie is in the blue now as financials push ahead again on the back of Lloyds Banking, which is motoring forward. Lloyds Banking shares are up over 13% as investors bet that the worst of the bad debts that caused an underlying loss of £4bn in the half year to June are passed. Impairment charges
Read moreArcandor banks may sell Thomas Cook stake
30th Jul 2009 10:49
The main lenders of bankrupt German retail giant Arcandor said they may sell the group's stake in Thomas Cook. The banks hold a 43.9% stake in the UK travel firm that was granted to them as collateral. Germany's Bayern LB, Commerzbank and Royal Bank of Scotland are considering their options and sa
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: Northern Rock, British Airways, Thomas Cook,
10th Jun 2009 06:15
The Treasury has told its investment banking advisers to examine the feasibility of selling Northern Rock, the nationalised lender, back to the City in the autumn, The Times has learnt. A number of senior banking sources said that the Treasury was trying to ascertain whether it should float the sta
Read moreLondon close: Footsie finishes flat
9th Jun 2009 17:05
The UK's blue-chip index spent the day flitting above and below last night's closing level so it should have been no surprise when the FTSE 100 closed virtually unchanged. Thomas Cook was the day's best performer after it calmed investors' nerves over the collapse of Arcandor, which has a 52% stake
Read moreLondon afternoon: Thos. Cook soars on bid spec
9th Jun 2009 14:39
It's been a see-saw day for London's leading shares which are now predominantly firmer, after US markets opened moderately higher. Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed press reports that it is to close its Cheltenham & Gloucester branch network in a move that will see 1,000 jobs go. Lloyds also annou
Read moreUpdate: Business as usual at Thos. Cook after owner goes bust
9th Jun 2009 13:22
German retail giant Arcandor, which owns department-store chain Karstadt and a majority stake in UK holiday firm Thomas Cook, has filed for bankruptcy after the German government rejected calls for state aid. The bankruptcy filing covers Karstadt and its Quelle catalogue businesses, putting around
Read moreLondon close: Late rally not enough
8th Jun 2009 17:01
Footsie came off its lows towards the close of trading Monday but still finished lower, held back by a weak mining sector. Mining stocks Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo, Lonmin and Antofagasta all featured among the ten worst perfor
Read moreLondon afternoon: Lloyds rump placed at 60p
8th Jun 2009 14:20
Footsie clawed back some losses over the lunch time session but remains in the red, thanks largely to the weakness of miners, which are following metals prices lower. Mining stocks Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo, Lonmin and Antofa
Read moreLondon midday: Miners weigh down Footsie
8th Jun 2009 12:19
London's blue-chip index is doing its usual trick of following the miners, which today are in a down phase. The worst performers in the mining sector are Vedanta Resources, Eurasian Natural Resources, Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo and Antofagasta. Hochschild Mining follows
Read moreLondon open: Bank news knocks Footsie
8th Jun 2009 08:40
Banking shares have dominated early trading after news from both Barclays and Lloyds, but investors have reacted cautiously in both instances. Barclays has confirmed talks are underway with US firm BlackRock over the future over its fund management arm Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which includ
Read moreLondon close: Good gains for FTSE 100
5th Jun 2009 17:00
Footsie finished with good gains Friday as buoyancy in the mining sector and economic optimism from the US cancelled out the effects of continued political uncertainty here. Mining stocks were at the forefront of the advance on the back of strong metal prices and excitement at closer ties between h
Read moreLondon afternoon: Wall Street boost for London
5th Jun 2009 14:22
London's rise has been given extra impetus by expectations of a strong opening on Wall Street in the wake of better than expected US first-time jobless claims. Mining stocks continue to be at the forefront of the advance on the back of strong metal prices and excitement at closer ties between heavy
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