London close: Mixed data, weak earnings pull FTSE below 6,900
3rd Mar 2015 16:33
A mixed batch of economic data and weak corporate earnings gave investors the excuse to take profits on Tuesday, as markets continued to retreat from their recent record highs. London's FTSE 100, which had started the day in positive territory, swung sharply into the red by mid-morning and extended
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Barclays and Glencore fall after annual results, Taylor Wimpey higher
3rd Mar 2015 13:44
Shares in Barclays fell after the bank set aside a total of £1.25bn for provisions to cover litigation costs related to ongoing probes into mis-selling PPI and rigging foreign exchange rates. The news came as Barclays reported a pre-tax loss of £532m for the fourth quarter. Commodities trader and mi
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pull back as corporate earnings disappoint
3rd Mar 2015 12:08
After coming close to another record high early on, UK stocks flatlined by Tuesday lunchtime as corporate earnings received a cool reaction from investors. The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 6,934.70 by midday, pulling back after reaching a high of 6,963.55 early on as Barclays, Glencore, Ashtead and Tra
Read moreLondon open: Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead drive markets higher, Barclays falls
3rd Mar 2015 09:11
The FTSE 100 was closing in on another record high on Tuesday morning as impressive German data and gains from Taylor Wimpey and Ashtead helped markets higher. However, upside was limited as Barclays and Travis Perkins underwhelmed with their annual results, while the heavyweight mining sector inche
Read moreLondon pre-open: Positive start expected after record close on Wall Street
3rd Mar 2015 07:50
UK stocks are expected to open with modest gains on Tuesday following a decent performance on Wall Street the night before, as investors watch corporate earnings on a quiet day for economic data. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 10 points higher than Monday's close of 6,940.64. Both the
Read moreTaylor Wimpey lifts dividend 180%
3rd Mar 2015 07:13
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has doubled its dividend payment after unveiling 54% profits growth in 2014 and enjoying better than expected trading in the new year. Revenue rose 17% to £2.69bn on the back of average selling prices surging 11.5% and UK volumes 6.5%, with the FTSE 100 group still able to
Read moreSector movers: Redrow and Reckitt give household sector a lift
11th Feb 2015 14:51
Well-received results from builder Redrow and consumer products group Reckitt Benckiser meant the household goods and home construction sector was the best performer in London on Wednesday. Redrow's share price had surged over 12% to 333p by the afternoon session after the company impressed with a s
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Associated British Foods, Income stocks
17th Jan 2015 00:50
Discount clothing brand Primark has been the main engine behind the rise in shares of Associated British Foods. However, as the unit's rapid rate of growth in both profits and revenues has slowed down so too the company's stock has fast become overvalued. Over the last five years the shares have ris
Read moreLondon midday: Retailers rise, housebuilders boosted as UK inflation rate drops
13th Jan 2015 12:08
A sharp drop in the UK inflation rate and well-received updates from a number of Britain's retailers gave London stocks a boost on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 was trading up 0.6% at 6,539 just after midday with retailers and housebuilders offsetting ongoing weakness in the resources sector. Markets were
Read moreLondon pre-open: Slow start expected as oil slumps, US earnings ahead
12th Jan 2015 07:59
UK stocks were expected to open more or less flat on Monday morning with investors taking a cautious approach after another slump in the price of oil. Markets were also treading lightly ahead of the unofficial start of US fourth-quarter earnings season, with aluminium giant Alcoai releasing its resu
Read moreTaylor Wimpey lifts margin guidance, expects "positive" 2015
12th Jan 2015 07:11
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said trading stabilised somewhat in the second half of 2014 as house-price growth eased, but painted an upbeat picture of the UK housing market as it lifted its margin guidance slightly. The company is now guiding to a full-year operating margin of "slightly over 400 basis
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks pull back after strong surge
9th Jan 2015 13:47
Supermarket stocks were under pressure on Friday, with Tesco in particular pulling back after a 15% surge the previous session, following the announcement of its turnaround plan and resilient Christmas sales. Dampening Tesco's shares was the news that ratings agency Moody's had cut the UK grocer'
Read moreBroker tips: AstraZeneca, Laird, Housing stocks, Oil prices
9th Jan 2015 11:43
AstraZeneca's drug pipeline is still "under-appreciated", according to UBS which hiked its target price for the stock by 10% on Friday. The bank said it sees a number of "blockbuster opportunities" for the pharmaceutical group in the near term, as it lifted its target for the shares from 5,000p to 5
Read moreLondon midday: Weak UK production data dampens stocks ahead of US jobs report
9th Jan 2015 11:35
Disappointing UK economic data and nervousness ahead of a key labour-market report in the States sent London's FTSE 100 lower on Friday morning, as stocks pulled back after a surge the previous session. By around lunchtime, the Footsie was trading nearly 0.7% lower at 6,527 with weakness among super
Read moreLondon open: Markets slip ahead of US data, supermarkets and housebuilders fall
9th Jan 2015 09:06
UK stocks endured a subdued start on Friday morning following a huge jump the previous session as markets paused for breath ahead of the pivotal US jobs report. The FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 6,554 early on, with supermarket stocks pulling back after a strong rally and housebuilders hit by some negat
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