London midday: Blue-chips in the red
23rd Sep 2010 12:12
London's blue-chips are beating a rapid retreat but second liners are having a slightly better time of it, though most are still in arrears. Banks and miners are prominent among the blue-chip fallers. Lloyds and Standard Chartered are the worst performing banking stocks while HSBC is also lower a
Read moreLondon open: Strong start for FTSE 100
23rd Sep 2010 08:18
London's leading stocks have got off to a good start, winning back the losses that mostly came at the end of an uncertain day's trading yesterday. Among the big companies posting gains is All Bar One pubs owner Mitchells & Butlers, which appears to have enjoyed an Indian summer. In the nine weeks
Read moreUnited Utilities on track after price review
23rd Sep 2010 07:23
Water supplier United Utilities says it is on track to deliver results in line with expectations, with the recent regulatory price review for the 2010 to 2015 period now water under the bridge. The company, which operates the water and wastewater network in the Northwest of England, has been sellin
Read moreThursday preview: Mitchells & Butlers, Utd. Utilities, mortgage approvals
22nd Sep 2010 17:07
The acquisition of the Ha Ha Bar and Grill chain from The Restaurant Group could be a sign that food-orientated pubs group Mitchells & Butlers has regained the spring in its step. On Thursday it issues a trading update that should be upbeat, according to Numis Securities. The broker is expecting li
Read moreLondon close: Footsie left behind
30th Jul 2010 16:34
Footsie was the sick man of Europe at trading's close as it failed to sustain a recovery that followed a downward turn sparked by disappointing US economic data. US gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter was disappointing. Inflation adjusted and seasonally adjusted gross domestic
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: United Utilities higher after disposal
30th Jul 2010 16:02
Footsie has rebounded during the afternoon and has scrapped back into positive territory near to the end of the day. Utilities and banks are leading the way. United Utilities has agreed to sell its 50% stake in non-regulated gas and electricity meter business Meter Fit to its partner Marlin. Unite
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares knocked by US GDP
30th Jul 2010 13:59
The Footsie hit new lows in the aftermath of disappointing US gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter. Inflation adjusted and seasonally adjusted gross domestic product rose at an annualised rate of 2.4% in the second quarter, a significant slow-down from the 3.7% annualised gain in
Read moreUnited Utilities Sells 50% Holding In Meter Fit For GBP119M
30th Jul 2010 12:24
LONDON (Dow Jones)--United Utilities Group PLC (UU.LN) said Friday it has agreed to sell its 50% holding in its non-regulated gas and electricity meter ownership business, Meter Fit, to its existing joint venture partner, Marlin Acquisitions Ltd, for GBP119 million. MAIN FACTS: -The consider
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks off the bottom
30th Jul 2010 12:12
Leading shares entered the lunch time trading session with a bit of momentum, with the FTSE index coming off its lowest levels of the day in the last half hour of the morning. Investors are turning to utilities after EDF sold its UK electricity grid operation to a consortium headed by Hong Kong bi
Read moreLondon open: Blue chips slip lower
30th Jul 2010 08:31
London's top stocks have opened lower with the focus on the latest earnings reports and GDP data due out in the US later today. Ash clouds from Iceland and strike action caused losses to grow at British Airways during a tough first quarter, although the airline still expects to break-even for the y
Read moreLondon close: Flat finish for Footsie
23rd Jul 2010 16:58
The day that was not without excitement, but shares were little changed overall amid uncertainty ahead of European banking stress tests due after the close. The best performing blue-chip was chip designer ARM Holdings . It was already higher, helped by strong results from US tech giant Microsoft ov
Read moreLondon afternoon: KNOC ups Dana bid terms
23rd Jul 2010 14:36
Leading blue-chips continue to drift lower with investors happy to bank the week's profits ahead of the week-end and the announcement of the results of the European banking stress tests at 5:00pm today. Not surprisingly, banks feature prominently among the losers with Standard Chartered, HSBC and L
Read moreLondon midday: Equities in wait and see mode
23rd Jul 2010 12:13
Investors are keeping their powder dry ahead of the release of the European bank stress tests after the close of business today. Stocks are easier on balance, despite signs that the UK economy is picking up. Gross domestic product grew by 1.1% during the quarter according the Office of National St
Read moreLondon open: Footsie moves higher
23rd Jul 2010 08:55
London has shrugged off an early dip and is now making progress again following on Wall Street's rise last night on the back of good US company earnings. Banks are likely to be a focus for most of the day as the results of the European stress tests are unveiled. There is some confusion over exactly
Read moreMARKET TALK: Morgan Stanley Ups United Utilities To Overweight
23rd Jul 2010 07:35
0635 GMT [Dow Jones] Morgan Stanley raises United Utilities Group (UU.LN) to overweight from equalweight, and boosts its target price to 595p from 570p. Keeps fellow water company Severn Trent (SVT.LN) at overweight, noting it regards having both companies at overweight as the best way to play the t
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