London midday: Surprise Swiss policy move sinks stocks, FTSE near one-month low
15th Jan 2015 11:57
Markets were back in the red by Thursday lunchtime, erasing earlier gains after a surprise announcement by the Swiss central bank. The FTSE 100, which rebounded to an intraday high of 6,472.91 early on, was down 0.6% at 6,349 by midday after Switzerland scrapping the franc's minimum exchange rate ag
Read moreBroker tips: Tullow Oil, Experian, Home Retail
15th Jan 2015 11:27
News of a multibillion-dollar write-down at Tullow Oil sent the share price in the exploration company lower on Thursday, though analysts at Westhouse Securities retained their positive rating on the stock. While the size of the $2.3bn write-down (after tax), is likely to disappoint investors, the b
Read moreWesthouse upbeat on Tullow despite write-down woe
15th Jan 2015 09:19
News of a multibillion-dollar write-down at Tullow Oil sent the share price in the exploration company lower on Thursday, though analysts at Westhouse Securities retained their positive rating on the stock. The broker kept its 'buy' stance, recommending investors to pick up shares on any weakness.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rebound after sell-off as earnings impress
15th Jan 2015 08:25
UK stocks advanced on Thursday morning but only partly clawed back losses after a heavy sell-off the previous session. The FTSE 100 was up 1.1% at 6,458 early on, with updates from blue chips Experian, Associated British Foods and Tullow Oil being well-received by the market. The index had dropped
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to rebound after heavy sell-off
15th Jan 2015 07:55
UK stocks are expected to rebound on Thursday after a massive sell-off the previous session on the back of concerns about global growth and plunging commodity prices. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 57 points higher than Wednesday's close of 6,388.46. The index dropped 2.4% the previous
Read moreTullow takes massive write-down as profits halve in 2014
15th Jan 2015 07:11
Tullow Oil said write-offs and impairment charges for 2014 would total billions of dollars after profits more than halved last year due to the collapse in crude prices. In a pre-closing trading update on Thursday, the exploration and production company said it expects to write down $1.6bn of assets,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners plummet as copper hits five-year low, oil companies continue south
14th Jan 2015 13:52
Mining stocks fell across the board though those exposed to the copper sector were hit the hardest after copper prices fell to five and a half year lows to $5,353.25 a metric ton. Antofagasta and Anglo American fared badly, but Glencore fared the worst, falling over 11% to a new record low. On
Read moreLondon close: Retailers provide a lift as inflation data boosts economic hopes
13th Jan 2015 16:48
UK stocks put in decent gains on Tuesday as a sharper-than-expected slowdown in inflation boosted hopes for consumer spending and pushed back projections for the first rate raise. A strong start to corporate earnings season in the States and increased hopes for further stimulus by the European Centr
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Morrison boosted after axing CEO as grocers dominate risers
13th Jan 2015 13:46
The share price of supermarket group Wm Morrison jumped 5% on Tuesday following the news that chief executive Dalton Philips has been axed after the company delivered the worst Christmas performance of the Big Four. Like-for-like (LFL) sales excluding fuel fell 3.1% in the six weeks to 4 January.
Read moreLondon midday: Retailers rise, housebuilders boosted as UK inflation rate drops
13th Jan 2015 12:08
A sharp drop in the UK inflation rate and well-received updates from a number of Britain's retailers gave London stocks a boost on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 was trading up 0.6% at 6,539 just after midday with retailers and housebuilders offsetting ongoing weakness in the resources sector. Markets were
Read moreLondon 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
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