London open: FTSE rises as earnings impress, but oil stocks fall
4th Nov 2014 08:31
The UK stock market opened tentatively on Tuesday, with declines in the energy sector offsetting some well-received results from blue chips Legal & General, Associated British Foods and Imperial Tobacco. The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,503 in early deals. However, upside was being limited by falls fr
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ends session with modest gains
30th Oct 2014 16:36
The top tier closed slightly higher on Thursday, as a strong performance by Smith & Nephew was offset by losses amongst the mining sector. The FTSE 100 ended the day 9.68 points higher than on the previous day at 6,463.55. Investors were paying attention to what analysts called an "artificially hig
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smith and Nephew rises after first quarter results
30th Oct 2014 16:14
Medical devices maker Smith & Nephew rose strongly after it posted a 3% increase in both revenue and profit for the third quarter, thanks to an improvement in its emerging and international markets units, recent product launches and investment in the sales force. On an underlying basis, turnover cli
Read moreSector movers: Mining, oil stocks track commodities lower as dollar gains
30th Oct 2014 13:24
Mining and oil stocks took a hit on Thursday as a hawkish statement by the Federal Reserve and better-than-expected US growth bolstered the dollar and dampened commodity prices. Gold dropped to its lowest in three weeks, while silver, platinum and crude prices all declined, as the dollar rose to a t
Read moreThursday broker round-up UPDATE
30th Oct 2014 08:36
Afren: Deutsche Bank cuts target price from 130p to 110p retaining its hold recommendation. Antofagasta: JP Morgan lowers target price from 760p to 755p and reiterates a neutral rating. Investec lowers target price from 717p to 704p and keeps a hold recommendation. Balfour Beatty: Jefferies cuts ta
Read moreTuesday broker round-up UPDATE
28th Oct 2014 09:18
Afren: Credit Suisse lowers target price from 132p to 115p staying with its outperform rating. African Barrick Gold: Westhouse moves target price from 230p to 240p and keeps an add rating. Anglo American: Investec reduces target price from 1603p to 1588p and keeps a buy recommendation. APR Energy:
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, Tullow Oil, Foxtons
23rd Oct 2014 12:04
Investec hailed Thursday's announcement by mining group Rio Tinto that it has decided to extend the tenure of its chief executive officer (CEO) Sam Walsh and also its chief financial officer, saying it provides certainty for shareholders. The broker added: "The announcement also provides some certai
Read moreLondon midday: UK stocks decline after Tesco, Tullow and Unilever disappoint
23rd Oct 2014 10:34
Poorly-received updates from heavyweights Tesco, Tullow Oil and Unilever and a profit warning from Foxtons were weighing on UK markets on Thursday, though trading was choppy after some better-than-expected data from the Eurozone. The FTSE 100 was down 0.6% at 6,359 by noon, pulling back after reachi
Read moreWesthouse highlights buying opportunity at Tullow despite mixed Kenyan update
23rd Oct 2014 09:22
Tullow Oil's share price dropped sharply on Thursday after the company reported a mixed exploration and appraisal update on Kenyan operations, though analysts at Westhouse Securities recommend investors to use this weakness as a buying opportunity. The broker maintained an 'add' rating and 930p targ
Read moreLondon open: Tesco leads UK stocks lower as first-half profits drop
23rd Oct 2014 07:45
UK stocks fell sharply on Thursday morning, led by poorly-received updates from blue chips Tesco, Tullow Oil and Unilever and a profit warning from Foxtons. London's FTSE 100 index was down 0.7% at 6,355 in early deals, with ex-dividend stocks also providing a drag. Markets were also giving a mixed
Read moreTullow abandons first well on Kerio Basin in Kenya
23rd Oct 2014 06:39
Hydrocarbons found at Tullow Oil's first well in Kenya's Kerio Basin "provide encouragement" even though it had to be plugged and abandoned, the exploration company said on Thursday. The Kodos-1 wildcat exploration well in Block 10BB, the first to be drilled in Kerio, north-east of the successful So
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Travel stocks fly higher
21st Oct 2014 14:51
Travel stocks were once again in positive territory as the sector recovered from a recent poor performance amid mounting concerns about the Ebola crisis. A report from Reuters claiming the European Central Bank is considering the possibility of buying corporate bonds on the secondary market, potenti
Read moreLondon midday: ECB stimulus hopes lift stocks, but earnings reports mixed
21st Oct 2014 11:38
Decent gains in the financial, energy and retail sectors helped the FTSE 100 rise strongly on Tuesday, despite some mixed blue-chip earnings and economic data from China. Also helping sentiment were reports that the European Central Bank is considering buying corporate bonds on the secondary market.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Tesco rises on reports profit mis-guidance was limited
20th Oct 2014 15:21
Travel stocks were putting in a decent performance on Monday, following recent volatile trading amid the growing Ebola crisis. There was good news from several continents on the state of efforts to contain the outbreak, with 48 people coming off a risk list in Texas, Nigeria being declared free of t
Read moreLondon midday: Oil stocks boost markets as sentiment recovers, Rolls-Royce drops
17th Oct 2014 11:41
UK stocks staged a partial recovery on Friday following a turnaround in sentiment on Wall Street, with oil producers leading the upside after a bounce in oil prices from their recent lows. The FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 6,245 by midday. On the face of it, a 0.8% gain on the FTSE 100 would otherwise be
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