London close: Footsie climbs after updates
29th Apr 2010 16:49
Investors were busy digesting a stream of company updates today and, seeing more good news than bad, sent the FTSE 100 into the blue. Pay TV and Internet service provider British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) was a top performer. Not only did it see subscriber numbers improve by a better than expected 6
Read moreLondon afternoon: BP left behind
29th Apr 2010 15:07
Footsie is trading close to its high for the day despite heavily weighted index constituent BP coming under the cosh after it said the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is much worse than initially thought. BP's chief operating officer Doug Suttles has admitted that the amount of oil leaking from the
Read moreLondon midday: London on a Sky high
29th Apr 2010 12:14
Traders are too busy digesting a full schedule of corporate announcements to worry about sovereign debt issues, as the Footsie makes another attempt at clawing back some of the heavy losses sustained on Monday. Pay TV and Internet service provider British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) is the top perform
Read moreTaylor Wimpey prices up 9%
29th Apr 2010 07:22
Taylor Wimpey has lifted selling prices of homes in the UK by 9% since January as the housing market continues to recover. The housebuilder adds that UK market conditions remain "encouraging, with continued gradual improvements in mortgage availability and buyer confidence". Prices achieved on sa
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Persimmon builds good gains
22nd Apr 2010 12:34
Housebuilder Persimmon is a top riser after it said sales have remained consistent since it last updated the market on March 2, despite uncertainty over the state of the economy and the coming general election. Peers Redrow and Taylor Wimpey are also posting good gains. It's been only seven weeks
Read moreLondon close: Footsie edges forward
12th Mar 2010 16:44
The leading share index limped higher to into the weekend only a few points ahead on the week. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays gained. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand. HSBC was the exception among the financials after Goldman Sachs reduced i
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie heading higher again
12th Mar 2010 14:05
Futures pointing to a strong start on Wall Street after better than expected retail sales figures and demand for the UK banks have kept Footsie moving upwards. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are all higher. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand.
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Dignity drifts lower
12th Mar 2010 13:49
Shares in Dignity have continued drifting lower after yesterday's full-year figures. The funeral services group said pre-tax profits climbed to £37.5m from £35.4m on revenues that rose to £184.7m from £175.8m, but market share slipped slightly. The company also said the first quarter of 2010 is exp
Read moreLondon midday: Banks keep Footsie ahead
12th Mar 2010 12:00
Banks are driving Footsie upwards following a sluggish start. Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays are all higher. Life groups Old Mutual, Legal & General and Standard Life are also in demand. HSBC is the exception among the financials after Goldman Sachs reduced its view to 'neutral' and
Read moreLondon close: Resurgent Footsie breaches 5,500 points
3rd Mar 2010 16:52
A good start on Wall Street helped jolt Footsie out of its sluggish start, helping the leading share index close above 5,500 points for the first time since January. Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered, the only FTSE 100 company to deliver results today, led the way after it defiantly said it will
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Arriva motors forward
3rd Mar 2010 14:35
Rail and bus group Arriva has sped ahead even after it saw profits fall by 19% in 2009 as it weathered the recession and dealt with the effects of a heavy increase in fuel costs. Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey falls back after it said full year pre-tax losses widened but added the first two months of t
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie ambles into positive territory
3rd Mar 2010 13:56
The blue-chip index moved into positive territory over the lunchtime trading session helped by expectations of a firm start on Wall Street. Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered, the only FTSE 100 company to deliver results today, defiantly said it will pay its executives bonuses after another recor
Read moreLondon midday: Market remains mixed
3rd Mar 2010 11:51
The market's indecision this morning was typified by the insurance sector where the blue-chip index's best and worst performers were to be found. RSA Insurance is the weakest blue-chip after the company said yesterday that it expects to make around £30m in payouts as a result of the Chilean earthqu
Read moreTaylor Wimpey losses widen
3rd Mar 2010 07:32
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said full year pre-tax losses widened but added the first two months of the year had started strongly and it was well positioned to increase profitability as markets recover. Loss before tax and exceptional items widened to £96.1m in the 12 months to 31 December 2009 from
Read moreWednesday preview: Standard Chartered, ITV, Carillion
2nd Mar 2010 18:07
The banking results season trundles on with Standard Chartered set to release full year figures on Wednesday. Whenever results of banks are spoken of, mention of bonuses usually follows soon after, but while the top bosses of some of the High Street banks have responded to public pressure and waive
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