London 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
Read moreLondon close: Footsie fades late
27th Jan 2011 16:32
Footsie closed lower after an afternoon rally, following a downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors, fizzled out. Life insurers moved to the top of the pile led by Old Mutual, Prudential and Aviva. Mining stocks did well after the US Federal Reserve indicated yesterd
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks edge higher
27th Jan 2011 14:23
Footsie remains marginally in positive territory after trading sideways over the lunchtime session, with the downgrade of Japan's credit weighting by ratings agency Standard & Poors continuing to weigh on sentiment. Mining stocks are going well, however, after the US Federal Reserve indicated yeste
Read moreLondon midday: Shares still seeking direction
27th Jan 2011 12:07
Shares remain uncertain following a raft of company statements this morning. Updates have been broadly well received, but ratings agency Standard & Poors' downgrade of Japan's credit rating weighing on sentiment. S&P now rates the far eastern nation at AA-, citing worries over its large debt burden
Read moreTullow Uganda talks rumble on
27th Jan 2011 11:03
Tullow Oil is still trying to get approval from the Ugandan government for the sale of oil blocks within the Lake Albert rift basin to French firm Total and China's CNOOC. The Irish oil company paid almost $1.5bn for the 50% stake in the blocks, previously owned by Heritage Oil, in July last year,
Read moreLondon open: Flat start despite strong updates
27th Jan 2011 08:38
Company updates have been given a good reception but the top share index is pausing for breath after good gains recently. BSkyB has demonstrated why newspaper group NewsCorp is so keen to take over the satellite broadcaster, with a strong rise in profits in the six months to 31 December. Pre-tax pr
Read moreLondon 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
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