London open: Retailers boost market ahead of inflation data, Morrison jumps
13th Jan 2015 08:57
Well-received updates from a host of retailers were giving UK stock markets a boost on Tuesday morning, as investors awaited some key inflation data. The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,514 early on with Wm Morrison leading the rise. Data due out at 09:30 is forecast to show that the annual rate of consu
Read moreSector movers: Energy stocks tank as oil prices continue to tumble
12th Jan 2015 15:21
Another tumble in the price of oil knocked stocks in the energy sector on Monday with investors concerned that the continued decline in crude prices will continue, while producer Afren lost over a quarter of its value after a disappointing project update. Brent crude was down 4.7% at $47.75 a barrel
Read moreLondon close: UK stocks sink 2% on Greek exit fears, oil-price plunge
5th Jan 2015 16:45
Concerns about the Greek crisis and continuing downwards pressure on oil prices drove London's stock market 2% lower on Monday, with investors scaling back their appetite for risk ahead of a busy week. The FTSE 100 finished the session down 130.64 points at 6,417.16, its lowest close since 17 Decemb
Read moreSector movers: Resource stocks drop as crude prices sink
5th Jan 2015 15:53
Stocks in the resource sectors dropped sharply on Monday as shares tracked commodity prices lower, with oil and copper prices extending multi-year lows. Oil producers such as Shell, BP, Tullow Oil, Premier Oil and Afren were trading with heavy losses. Energy services stocks were also under pressure,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Travel stocks gain, resource shares drop
5th Jan 2015 15:03
The travel sector was booming on Monday as oil prices continued to fall. Carnival, International Consolidated Airlines Group and EasyJet were among the best performing members of the FTSE 100. Randgold Resources and Fresnillo were on the rise as gold and silver prices increased. Gold was up for the
Read moreLondon midday: Resource stocks drag FTSE 100 into the red
5th Jan 2015 11:36
UK stocks were trading firmly in the red by Monday lunchtime despite a positive start, with shares in the oil and mining sectors providing a drag. London's FTSE 100 was down 0.9% at 6,489 by midday, dropping sharply after reaching a high of 6,576.74 early on. This week will be the first full tradin
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Energy stocks hit by drop in crude, Lloyds boosted by upgrade
2nd Jan 2015 14:22
Sainsbury was trading lower as hedge funds forecast that the supermarket group would be damaged by the grocery industry's escalating price war. Lansdowne Partners, Odey Asset Management and Marshall Wace all blamed the growing popularity of discounters Aldi and Lidl, who would hit profitability by f
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks trim gains ahead of early finish on NYE
31st Dec 2014 11:25
UK stocks had pared gains by midday but were still trading marginally in positive territory heading into the close on a shortened New Year's Eve session. The FTSE 100 was up 0.05% at 6,551 by noon on the last trading day of the year, but looks set to finish December down 2.6% - its worst December in
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks slip as Greek uncertainty hits sentiment
30th Dec 2014 11:19
Uncertainty in Athens and falling oil prices were weighing heavily on UK stocks on Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 snapping an eight-day winning streak. The FTSE 100 was down 0.9% at 6,576.11 after hitting a three-week high the previous session. Greek politics were in focus for those traders return
Read moreLondon open: UK stocks retreat from three-week high on Greek politics, oil prices
30th Dec 2014 08:26
Political uncertainty in Greece and falling oil prices were weighing on UK stocks on Tuesday as markets pulled back from a three-week high. The FTSE 100 was down 0.6% at 6,594 in early trading, snapping an eight-day winning streak. The index settled at 6,633.51 on Monday, its highest close since 8 D
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Tesco, Oil explorers, Sainsbury´s
28th Dec 2014 17:17
Tesco is testing a discount format in its One Stop chain, indicating the group could be considering new ways to combat Aldi and Lidl, the Sunday Times said. Three One Stop branches have been trading as discounters with low prices and limited ranges for the past seven weeks. The trial is the idea of
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rise for seventh straight session ahead of Christmas break
24th Dec 2014 11:21
The UK stock market looked set to record its seventh straight day in positive territory on Christmas Eve, with just an hour to go before the end of a shortened session. The FTSE 100 was up just 0.1% at 6,603 by midday, trading within a narrow range as investors refrained from taking on too much risk
Read moreLondon open: Stocks edge higher on ahead of Christmas, Smith & Nephew jumps
24th Dec 2014 08:26
UK stocks posted their seventh straight day of gains on Wednesday, though upside was modest with markets winding down on a shortened Christmas Eve session. London's FTSE 100 was up 0.1% at 6,608 early on, having finished Tuesday at a two-week closing high of 6,598.18. With very few catalysts expect
Read moreLondon close: Santa Rally continues as UK stocks rise for sixth straight day
23rd Dec 2014 16:51
UK stocks rose again on Tuesday as the Santa Rally continued into its sixth straight day, with markets boosted by some upbeat economic data from the States. Third-quarter US annualised gross domestic product (GDP) growth was revised to 5% from an initial estimate of 3.9%, representing the strongest
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Centrica boosted by directorate change, oil and gas stocks strong
23rd Dec 2014 14:07
Centrica shares were boosted as the company appointed Carlos Pascual as a new non-executive director, who is said to have extensive geopolitical, economic and commercial development experience in the energy industry. "He brings a wealth of experience with his exceptionally strong international b
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