London pre-open: Astra defies expectations
27th Jan 2011 07:41
London is set to open modestly higher despite yesterday's late swoon in the US. After the US market closed yesterday the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee retained its cautious stance on the US economic recovery. Interest rates were unchanged near historic lows, with the additional $600bn bond
Read moreLondon close: Miners hold back FTSE 100
10th Jan 2011 17:01
The top share index was firmly in negative territory at the close of trading, despite M&A excitement concerning Smith & Nephew The joint replacement specialist jumped more than 10% following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christmas. Sticking with
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners a drag
10th Jan 2011 14:20
Footsie moved sideways over the lunch time trading session. Mining stocks continue to weigh the blue-chip index down, but oil stocks provide some cheer. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal lower. Kazakhmys, which transports copper from its Kazakhsta
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 stuck lower
10th Jan 2011 12:11
Shares remain rooted in negative territory in spite of a big jump from artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew following reports of an offer from Johnson & Johnson. Miners are holding back the top share index. A decline in copper imports into commodity-hungry China sent prices for the red metal
Read moreLondon open: Poor start to week
10th Jan 2011 08:23
A fresh round of takeover speculation and well-received numbers from Morrisons hasn't been enough to cancel losses across the mining sector. Artificial joint specialist Smith & Nephew rallied Monday following reports it turned down a bid approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson just before Christma
Read moreLondon pre-open: Retailers in focus
10th Jan 2011 07:34
A subdued start to the week is in prospect, with Friday's disappointing US jobs data still casting a shadow over proceedings. City traders expect the Footsie will open around 12 points below Friday's closing level. The Christmas trading updates from retailers are starting to come through, and the d
Read moreMixed news from Tullow
10th Jan 2011 07:18
Tullow Oil had mixed news on Monday morning with success on one well in Ghana but a disappointing outcome on a prospect in Mauritania. The Tweneboa-3 appraisal well in the Deepwater Tano licence offshore Ghana has successfully encountered gas condensate in excellent quality sandstone reservoirs. Re
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers as M&A action heats up
15th Nov 2010 16:37
The top share index snapped out of a weak start to finish in positive territory Monday as jitters over the Irish debt situation eased and bid speculation and company updates attracted attention. Shares in Invensys moved higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid activity keeps the pot bubbling
15th Nov 2010 14:07
A sprinkling of bid speculation is livening up markets this Monday, as traders wait for the Irish sovereign debt situation to play itself out. Shares in Invensys are higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received an approach. The company's chief executive Ulf Henrik
Read moreGood result for Tullow in Sierra Leone
15th Nov 2010 07:36
Oil and gas company Tullow Oil has had a favourable result on its 10% owned Mercury-1 exploration well in Sierra Leone. Anadarko Petroleum, which has a 65% interest in the well, said the company's second deepwater test in the Sierra Leone-Liberian Basin encountered about 135 net feet of oil pay in
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Profit-taking in miners
10th Nov 2010 13:59
Miners are on the slide and dragging down Footsie. Gold and silver reached new highs yesterday and eight of the worst ten performers are miners as investors take profits. Kazakhmys and Randgold are the biggest fallers but Anglo American is bucking the trend. Tullow Oil's interim management state
Read moreTullow Oil expects top end from Jubilee
10th Nov 2010 07:34
Tullow Oil has confirmed the Jubilee field in Ghana will move into production next month, December, with its working interest forecast at an average 58,000 barrels daily, the top end of previous guidance. Elsewhere, an appraisal programme to delineate the recently discovered Owo and Tweneboa field
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie consolidates gains
2nd Nov 2010 14:26
Footsie moved sideways over the lunch time session, as investors digested a busy morning of big company announcements. Beleaguered oil giant BP comfortably beat third quarter profit forecasts though it has had to take an additional $7.7bn charge in respect of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The marke
Read moreLondon close: Late dip slows Footsie's progress
21st Oct 2010 16:42
A late sag pulled Footsie back after it seemed destined for its highest close since the middle of April. Good company news and a bright start on Wall Street, with the Dow up 100 points at the start, meant a strong afternoon session in London, but blue chips eased back as the day ended. BT was the
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares climb higher as Wall Street advances
21st Oct 2010 15:37
Footsie is still going strong with a good start on Wall Street underpinning earlier gains. BT is higher after a favourable court ruling. The UK government has to guarantee all BT employees in the BT pension scheme, not just the ones that joined prior to privatisation in 1984, it was decided. Glax
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