London close: Two-year high for blue chips
4th Nov 2010 17:01
Footsie hit a two-year high as investors piled into blue chips after yesterday's larger-than-expected stimulus package unveiled by the US Federal Reserve. But the good sentiment was not universal, with some hefty fallers on the back of disappointing trading updates. Hopes that the Bank of England's
Read moreLondon afternoon: Morning's gains consolidated
4th Nov 2010 14:23
Since the Bank of England's noon announcement extinguished the small hopes of Britain joining the US in reviving its quantitative easing programme, leading shares have marked time. Miners are still doing particularly well on hopes that the Fed's stimulus measures will help sustain the global econo
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Funds growth for Man
4th Nov 2010 14:04
Hedge fund manager Man Group has risen more than 10% as funds under management grew in the third quarter of 2010. Man reported a rise in funds under management to $40.5bn (£25.2bn) from $38.5bn the previous quarter. The firm says that it was 'due to strong investment performance and favourable FX m
Read moreLondon midday: Market follows Man higher
4th Nov 2010 12:54
After a morning of holding its breath waiting for the Bank of England's pronouncement on quantitative easing, the admittedly small hopes that the Bank would follow the US central bank's lead and resume its asset buy-back programme were crushed by the announcement of maintenance of the status quo. N
Read moreLondon open: Shares jump after US launches second stimulus phase
4th Nov 2010 08:30
Yesterday's announcement of a second phase of quantitative easing in the US has sent shares soaring. Miners in particular are going well on hopes that the stimulus measures will help sustain the global economic recovery. BHP Billiton, Kazakhmys and Xstrata move ahead. In other sectors, Anglo-Dutc
Read moreLondon pre-open: London cheers US QE move
4th Nov 2010 07:41
The decision by the Federal Reserve to purchase a further $600bn of longer term treasuries by the end of the first half of 2011 has cheered London, though the chances of the Bank of England following the Fed's move and announcing a resumption of quantitative easing (QE) at noon today are considered
Read morePricing pressure easing at Unilever
4th Nov 2010 07:23
Anglo-Dutch household goods giant Unilever saw underlying sales growth ease off in the third quarter, despite a strong performance in emerging markets. Turnover in the third quarter was up 13.2% at €11.55bn from €10.20bn a year earlier, ahead of some market forecasts of €11.35bn. Underlying sales
Read moreThursday preview: BoE QE, Man Group, Unilever
3rd Nov 2010 15:58
By Thursday morning markets will know whether the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has resumed quantitative easing (QE) and, if so, by how much. Attention will then turn the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which has much the same decision to make as its US counterpart. Whi
Read moreHaloSource raises £31.5m in AIM flotation
12th Oct 2010 11:38
Water treatment technology developer HaloSource has raised £31.5m gross at 135p a share ahead of its AIM flotation on 18 October. The company is valued at £100m at the placing price. Seattle-based HaloSource will use the cash from a placing to finance expansion plans, particularly in China and Ind
Read morePremier Foods attracts bidders for Quorn
4th Oct 2010 07:03
Hovis bread and Branston Pickle owner Premier Foods has confirmed reports in the weekend papers that offers have been made for its meat free business that includes Quorn. "As stated at the time of its interim results on 4th August, the board remains open minded about disposals, provided they delive
Read moreDaly buys at BAT
1st Oct 2010 16:31
British American Tobacco's chief operating officer John Daly has invested nearly £511,000 in shares in the tobacco company. He has bought 21,200 shares at 2408.57p each and that takes his beneficial stake to 52,417 shares. Daly joined BAT as a result of its merger with Rothmans in 1999. He was a
Read moreThursday newspaper round-up: Banks, Ireland, Unilever
30th Sep 2010 06:29
Downing Street appeared to be snubbing the banking industry yesterday as it finalised a 16-strong panel of corporate grandees to advise the Prime Minister on business matters. While manufacturing, construction, utilities, retailing and small businesses are well represented, no one from the banking
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Unilever, Centrica, Thomas Cook...
29th Sep 2010 06:45
Unilever shares have underperformed of late, although they have started to bounce from recent lows. However, they are still more than £2 below their recent high of £20.15 seen in December. They hit a low of £16.88 at the end of August. The long-term growth will come from emerging markets, where mor
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Unilever's Greek buy
28th Sep 2010 14:35
Unilever has followed up yesterday's £2.3bn acquisition of US-based Alberto Culver with a more modest deal to buy Greek company EVGA's ice cream brands. The brands include Scandal, Variete and Karabola. Unilever will also buy the distribution network but EVGA will continue to manufacture the ice c
Read moreLondon close: Late slip sends Footsie lower
27th Sep 2010 16:43
After a sluggish day that saw shares mostly hovering around the zero mark, Footsie finished lower, in line with weakness in other markets. Worries over the Eurozone debt situation were at the fore again, sending shares in mainland Europe and the US lower, after the rating agency Moody's downgraded
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