FTSE 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
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
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