London 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
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Retailers on the slide
11th Feb 2011 14:13
Retailers are among the main fallers after some weekly sales figures from unquoted retailer John Lewis. Next, Marks & Spencer, Kingfisher and Burberry are all lower after underwhelming sales figures from the John Lewis. There was a 1% rise in sales in the week to February 5 from the same period l
Read moreLondon afternoon: L&G leads modest advance
11th Feb 2011 14:11
Leading shares are mixed but with a slightly firmer bias after rising over the lunchtime session. Insurer Legal & General (L&G) leads the advance on the back of a positive broker note from Nomura Securities. "We highlight our preference for L&G over Prudential (Reduce), given that we expect Pru to
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 back above 6,000
11th Feb 2011 12:18
The FTSE 100 is back above 6,000 after a weaker spell earlier but remains in the red. Retailers are among the heaviest fallers after some underwhelming sales figures from the John Lewis. As the department store itself put it, the 1% rise in sales in the week to February 5 from the same period las
Read moreLondon open: Oil groups lift Footsie
11th Feb 2011 09:00
Footsie has rallied from a weak start with resources stocks sparking into life and buyers encouraged by some bid activity among the mid-caps. Support services group Carillion is moving up nicely after agreeing to pay £306.5m for green support services business Eaga. In a deal recommended by Eaga b
Read moreLondon close: Footsie lower as results disappoint
10th Feb 2011 16:29
Footsie staged a late rally to climb back over 6,000, but still ended the day lower amid a very mixed bag of company results. It was a day for corporates to keep their head down as even those companies posting good numbers got whacked. Miner Rio Tinto fell after record full-year profits, a $5bn sha
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie hovers around 6,000
10th Feb 2011 15:18
Footsie has slumped below 6,000 with insurers and miners featuring prominently among the laggards. Miner Rio Tinto is lower even though it had plenty to please shareholders, with record full-year profits, a $5bn share buyback and 20% increase in the dividend. The Anglo-Australian group made a net
Read moreLondon midday: Shares stuck lower after Bank holds rates
10th Feb 2011 12:29
Shares remain firmly in the red following the Bank of England's decision to leave interest rates and quantitative easing unchanged. The Bank has kept interest rates on hold at a record low of 0.5% Mixed results have added to the unsettled mood. Drinks giant Diageo raised revenues in the six months
Read moreLondon open: FTSE 100 lower after mixed updates
10th Feb 2011 08:29
Shares are moving in both directions after updates, but the FTSE 100 is lower overall. Price rises and improved volumes in North America and continuing growth in emerging markets helped drinks giant Diageo lift revenues in the six months to December 31, but weakness in Europe resulted in profits m
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks set for modest retreat
10th Feb 2011 07:41
It's looking like a weaker start for London Thursday as small gains in the US overnight fail to offset losses in the Far East. Engine maker Rolls-Royce made slightly more money than expected in 2010 and predicts good profit growth this year despite government spending squeezing customers in the def
Read moreTullow 2011 programme off to "great start"
10th Feb 2011 07:03
Oil firm Tullow Oil has discovered oil and gas in its Teak-1 exploration well in the West Cape Three Points licence offshore Ghana. The well contains around 73 metres of net hydrocarbons in two Campanian and three Turonian-aged reservoirs. In the shallower Campanian-aged reservoirs, the well inte
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