FTSE 100 movers: Supermarket stocks take a hit
2nd Oct 2013 14:45
Coca-Cola HBC continued to slide lower to become the biggest faller this afternoon. However, much of the focus was on supermarket giant Tesco today as it registered steep losses after disappointing the market with its interim results. Half-year underlying pre-tax profit fell 7.4% to £1.4bn as an i
Read moreLondon close: Stocks at one-month low on looming US shutdown
30th Sep 2013 16:36
Stocks were firmly lower on Monday as risk appetite was reduced in the face of a looming partial shutdown of the US government after a weekend of no progress in Washington. Political instability in Italy also dampened the mood today as well as disappointing economic data from China, with falls in t
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners weigh heavily after Chinese data disappoints
30th Sep 2013 14:19
Mining stocks declining sharply today on the back of the disappointing data from the world's top metals user, China. Fresnillo, Anglo American, Antofagasta, Glencore Xstrata and Rio Tinto were all falling sharply. China´s manufacturing sector purchasing managers´ index (PMI) for the month of Septe
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drag FTSE 100 to one-month low
30th Sep 2013 11:42
Concerns over a potential government shutdown in the US, political chaos in Italy and disappointing economic figures from China sparked steep falls on equity markets across Europe on Monday morning, with the FTSE 100 slipping to levels not seen in a month. The FTSE 100 was trading around 0.85% lowe
Read moreSector movers: Utility stocks hit by Labour plans to freeze energy bills
26th Sep 2013 14:50
Electricity and multi-utility stocks were falling sharply again on Thursday as investors continue to show concern over comments from Labour leader Ed Miliband who pledged to freeze energy bills if the party is voted back into power in 2015. Shares in British Gas owner Centrica were falling heavily
Read moreSector movers: Centrica drag utilities lower after shelving gas storage plans
23rd Sep 2013 15:04
Centrica was weighing on the utilities sector on Monday after the British Gas owner announced plans to shelve two gas storage projects. The group said it has decided not to proceed with its new-build gas storage project at Baird in the UK Southern North Sea and to put its project at Caythorpe in Ea
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Croda jumps on upgrade from Credit Suisse
23rd Sep 2013 14:22
Chemicals firm Croda was in the top spot after Credit Suisse upgraded its recommendation from 'neutral' to 'outperform' and hiked its target price from 2,600p to 3,000p. Telecoms giant Vodafone also gained after UBS raised its target price for the shares from 230p to 245p after including Kabel Deut
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks lower on German elections, US debt ceiling
23rd Sep 2013 11:18
Elections in Germany, an uncertain outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy and a debate over the US debt ceiling weighed on markets on Monday morning, as traders shrugged off upbeat data from China and the Eurozone. The HSBC/Markit flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China's manufacturin
Read moreLondon open: Stocks slip despite Merkel victory in German elections
23rd Sep 2013 08:04
Stocks slipped into the red on Monday morning as investors digested this weekend's elections in Germany along with the uncertain outlook for monetary policy in the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU party won 41.5% of the vote in the federal elections this weekend after winning 311 seats
Read moreLondon close: Stocks hit by Bullard comments as post-Fed rally fades
20th Sep 2013 16:39
The exuberant post-Fed mood quickly faded on Friday with comments from one US policymaker dampening stocks before the close of trade. Risk appetite was also scaled back as caution set in ahead of the German elections at the weekend with the outcome still highly uncertain. The FTSE 100 finished 28.
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pause ahead of German elections
20th Sep 2013 11:36
Stocks were trading broadly flat by Friday lunchtime as markets paused for breath in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's surprise decision not to taper quantitative easing, though upside was limited ahead of the German elections this weekend. After a weak start, the FTSE 100 was more or less unc
Read moreLondon open: Markets pull back as post-Fed rally fades
20th Sep 2013 08:17
Markets pulled back on Friday morning after a sharp rise the day before in the aftermath of the Federal Reserve's surprise decision not to taper quantitative easing. The FTSE 100 slipped slightly in early trade, falling 0.1% to 6,617, retreating after a 1% jump pushed it to 6,625.39 on Thursday. S
Read moreFriday newspaper tips: United Utilities, Premier Farnell
20th Sep 2013 07:25
United Utilities, the UK's largest listed water utility, could be facing a dividend cut within the next two years if Ofgem tries to claw back some of the gains which accrued to the company as a result of low borrowing rates. Historically, water shares have tended to struggle after the midpoint in th
Read moreLondon close: Strong finish for UK markets after Fed decision
19th Sep 2013 16:46
After a strong day's trading at around 90 points above the opening bell, the FTSE eased somewhat lower in late trading to close at 6,625.39, 66.57 points (1.01 per cent) above yesterday's finish. The surge came after the Federal Reserve surprised market participants with its decision to maintain it
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners track metal prices higher
19th Sep 2013 14:17
Mining stocks were the biggest risers on Thursday as the price of precious metals jumped. Randgold Resources, Fresnillo, Anglo American and Antofagasta were among the miners who gained on an increase in commodity values. COMEX Gold was up 4.55% to $1,367.10 per ounce at 13:45 while silver and copp
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