London midday: FTSE 100 approaches 6,000
3rd Mar 2011 12:03
A combination of pleasing company updates and optimism that the Libyan situation will be resolved has sent shares sharply higher. Reports that the Arab League is considering a proposal to end the fighting in Libya have boosted sentiment, but talk that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is also to try
Read moreLondon open: Strong start as updates impress
3rd Mar 2011 08:40
Shares are broadly higher after a good reception for most updates, while BSkyB moves ahead after the government gave News Corporation's acquisition of the satellite broadcaster the green light. The government has agreed to let Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp, the publisher of the Times and Sun, buy satel
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie heading higher
3rd Mar 2011 07:43
Blue chips are expected to get off to a pretty good start Thursday as oil prices ease back and Asian stocks post gains this morning. US light crude for April delivery is currently trading down $1.02 at $101.21 a barrel. Rebels seem to be having some success fighting off Colonel Gaddafi's forces in
Read moreTullow hails excellent result off coast of Ghana
3rd Mar 2011 07:16
Oil and gas firm Tullow Oil hailed an "exceptional result" on its drilling of the Enyenra-2A appraisal well, in the Deepwater Tano licence offshore Ghana. Drilling successfully encountered oil in excellent quality sandstone reservoirs, with solid evidence of communication with the Owo-1 well, which
Read moreLondon close: Blue chips rally near close
24th Feb 2011 16:40
Shares rallied near the close despite the ongoing turmoil in Libya as Saudi Arabia indicated it would boost production to meet any shortfall caused by the unrest. Libya only produces about 2% of global output, but traders are worried the turmoil could spread to bigger oil producers, such as Algeri
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Bumper profit from Capita
24th Feb 2011 15:27
Outsourced services provider Capita is the best performer after its figures. Capita lifted revenues and profits in 2010 despite the coalition government's cost-cutting drive. Pre-tax profits climbed to £364.2m from £325.1m on revenues that rose to £2.74bn from £2.69bn. Serco has risen on the back
Read moreSector movers: Surging prices lift oil stocks
24th Feb 2011 14:56
Oil groups are higher Thursday afternoon on the back of surging oil prices amid the ongoing turmoil in Libya. Brent crude jumped to $119.79 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, up by nearly 18% since the unrest began. The April contract for US light crude rose to $103.41 a barr
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 shrugs off mining weakness
16th Feb 2011 16:47
The top share index retained its strength to close with good gains, in spite of weakness in the mining sector. Rocketing commodity prices meant record profits for BHP Billiton in the first half, bankrolling a huge investment programme and share buyback scheme, but the shares still fell. Profit a
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks consolidate gains
16th Feb 2011 14:20
Footsie finished the lunchtime session barely changed from where it started it after an attempt to extend gains fizzled out. Rocketing commodity prices meant record profits for BHP Billiton in the first half, bankrolling a huge investment programme and share buyback scheme. Still, the shares are
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BHP falls after bumper figures
16th Feb 2011 12:52
Rocketing commodity prices meant record interim profits for BHP Billiton plus a huge investment programme and share buyback scheme but the share price still fell. Profit attributable to shareholders jumped 72% to US$10.5bn (£6.5bn) on revenue up 39% to $34.2bn. The group announced an ambitious inv
Read moreLondon midday: Banks lift FTSE 100
16th Feb 2011 12:13
The top share index remains comfortably in positive territory, with banks helping to offset losses in the mining sector. Rocketing commodity prices meant record profits for BHP Billiton in the first half, bankrolling a huge investment programme and share buyback scheme. Still, the shares are sligh
Read moreLondon open: Bright start after BHP record
16th Feb 2011 08:47
London shares have pushed on strongly despite a lukewarm response to blockbusting results from mining titan BHP Billiton. In Europe, French drugs giant Sanofi-Aventis has agreed to pay $20.1bn (£12.4bn) for American biotech firm Genzyme.Genzyme shareholders will get $74 in cash per share and may ge
Read moreLondon pre-open: Mixed start in prospect
16th Feb 2011 07:41
London shares are expected to open mixed, with the FTSE 100 index tipped to open around 8 points higher despite blockbusting results from mining titan BHP Billiton. Rocketing commodity prices meant record profits for BHP Billiton in the first half, bankrolling a huge investment programme and share
Read moreTullow has Mauritania miss
16th Feb 2011 07:22
Tullow Oil has plugged and abandoned its Gharabi-1 well, located in Block 6 offshore Mauritania after poor drilling results. The well intersected poorly developed water-bearing reservoirs. Gharabi-1 was drilled by the Operator Petronas to meet a commitment on the block and the result has no impact
Read moreLondon close: Shares applaud Mubarak exit
11th Feb 2011 16:51
Shares rallied sharply in the afternoon following strong confidence figures from the US, but it was the announcement that Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is stepping down that really stirred up excitement. One stock in particular reacted strongly to the announcement. Shares in gold miner Centamin
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