London close: Investors take profits ahead of Christmas
21st Dec 2012 16:31
- Cancelled 'Plan B' vote results in sell-off - Boehner pledges to continue negotiations - Miners and financials in the red While stocks managed to stage a small comeback in afternoon trade, the UK market finished the week on a dull note, with 'fiscal cliff' fears dampening the festive cheer ahead
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners and financials in the red
21st Dec 2012 15:07
Miners and financial stocks were bearing the brunt of the bearish mood on markets on Friday as investors cut positions in riskier assets on concerns over the US economy. However, Randgold Resources was bucking the trend as gold prices advanced following heavy losses this week. Banks were under th
Read moreLondon midday: Risk appetite scaled back on 'fiscal cliff' fears
21st Dec 2012 11:20
On the last full day of trading before the Christmas holiday, there was little evidence of a 'Santa Rally' on the FTSE 100 with worries about the 'fiscal cliff' Stateside providing a drag on the market. "This week will likely be remembered for the US fiscal cliff hanging over the markets and invest
Read moreLondon close: Gains pared after White House comments on 'fiscal cliff'
19th Dec 2012 16:57
The UK stock market staged a slight 'Santa rally' on Wednesday, with risk appetite increasing before Christmas on the back of a Greek ratings upgrade and a better-than-expected reading of German confidence. "Santa has returned to the markets, bringing some much needed cheer before the Christmas bre
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Financials, IAG and CRH lead the risers
19th Dec 2012 15:31
Insurance and banking stocks were performing well on Wednesday afternoon after Credit Suisse upgraded its ratings on both sectors this morning. Lloyds was up 4% after the Swiss broker raised its view on European banks to 'benchmark' from 'small underweight', saying that the stock looks "abnormally
Read moreLondon midday: The 'Santa Rally' begins...
19th Dec 2012 11:35
An upgrade of Greece's credit rating and a better-than-expected reading of German sentiment saw European stock markets make impressive gains on Wednesday. Meanwhile, increasing optimism that US leaders can strike a deal to avert the 'fiscal cliff' was also continuing to bolster the bullish mood.
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise on hopes over Greece
19th Dec 2012 08:16
UK stocks were making gains in early trading on Wednesday with sentiment being lifted by improving developments in Greece. Yesterday evening, S&P upgraded its rating for Greece from 'selective default' to 'B-minus'. The yield on a 10-year Greek bond was down 13 basis points at 12.7% this morning.
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Wood Group falls as update comes in mixed
13th Dec 2012 15:48
Energy services giant Wood Group fell after it reported mixed trading in its Upstream division and despite saying it expects to deliver good growth this year, with overall conditions in energy markets remaining 'favourable'. AstraZeneca fell after revealing that its experimental drug for rheumatoi
Read moreBellzone Mining founder sells shares to other stake holder
4th Dec 2012 16:13
The founder of Bellzone Mining, which develops two Iron ore and nickel/copper assets in Guinea, West Africa, has sold 50m shares in the company. Nikolajs Zuks, who has been the company's Managing Director since August 2009, disposed of the shares at 17p each for a total of £8.5m. As a result, Zuk
Read moreLondon close: Losses erased after 'optimistic' fiscal cliff comments
28th Nov 2012 16:43
Comments from US Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner about the 'fiscal cliff' saw the FTSE 100 rally in afternoon trading to finish broadly flat. Markets got off to a poor start this morning after Nevada Democrat Harry Reid said that "little progress" has been made so far on avoiding the f
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Bunzl falls on reduced price target
28th Nov 2012 14:44
Bunzl shares took a hit after Citigroup cut its target price from 1,250p to 1,190p, and kept a neutral rating. AMEC, Johnson Matthey, National Grid and Tate & Lyle were also registering losses today after going ex-dividend. Medical technology group Smith & Nephew fell after announcing that it is
Read moreLondon midday: 'Fiscal cliff' concerns dampen markets
28th Nov 2012 11:41
- Comments from Harry Reid weigh on sentiment - Intel rumoured to be interested in ARM - Ex-div stocks provide a drag The FTSE 100 was trading firmly in the red on Wednesday, tracking US stocks lower overnight as the market's focus turns from Greece to the US 'fiscal cliff'. The main US equity ben
Read moreLondon open: Stocks fall as focus turns to 'fiscal cliff'
28th Nov 2012 08:31
UK stocks slipped in early trading on Wednesday, tracking US markets lower, as focus turned to the impending US 'fiscal cliff'. "European equities are trading lower this morning being pressured by a late sell-off in the US yesterday evening on fears that so far there has been too little progress be
Read moreUnited Utilities helped by price rises in the first half
28th Nov 2012 07:16
Revenues at water and sewage services group United Utilities edged higher in the first half, helped by regulated price increases. Turnover came in at £823m in the six months to the end of September, up from £793m the year before. However, this missed the £835m consensus forecast. Nevertheless, th
Read moreWednesday preview: Thomas Cook and United Utilities
27th Nov 2012 15:27
It looks like the holiday is already over for the new head of Thomas Cook, Harriet Green, who joined the firm from electronics outfit Premier Farnell in July. Peel Hunt analyst Nicholas Batram predicts underlying pre-tax profits of £154m for the year to September 30th - that's around half of last y
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