London afternoon: Rally into three figures
23rd Nov 2009 14:49
A record price for gold, an early rally on Wall Street and strength across the financial sector has sent London to its best levels of the day. Gold has hit new highs, and that has led to sharp mark-ups in the price of gold miner Randgold and silver and gold miner Fresnillo. Elsewhere in the sector
Read moreLondon midday: Cadbury hits new high
23rd Nov 2009 12:06
London shares are racing ahead as the dollar's recent strength wanes, prompting renewed interest in mining shares. Gold has hit new highs, and that has led to sharp mark-ups in the price of gold miner Randgold and silver and gold miner Fresnillo. Elsewhere in the sector ENRC, Lonmin, Xstrata, Rio
Read moreLondon open: Miners propel Footsie higher
23rd Nov 2009 08:51
Miners are driving Footsie higher again, with all of the top ten gainers metals groups. Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Randgold are the top risers, but the gains are sector-wide and strong. There's also good news at Lloyds Banking Group where the bank has the part-nationalised lender enjoyed "strong dema
Read moreLondon close: Good as gold
16th Nov 2009 16:56
Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared. Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmi
Read moreLondon afternoon: Sainsbury slides on sales leak
16th Nov 2009 14:31
After getting off to a flying start, the FTSE 100 index has drifted sideways since the middle of the morning. A larger part of the blue-chip index's gain is down to mining stocks, which are in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin leads the sector higher despite reporting a full-y
Read moreLondon midday: Early gains consolidated
16th Nov 2009 12:11
Stock prices saw a modest amount of profit taking after the Footsie hit a 14-month high. Lonmin is leading the mining sector higher despite reporting a full-year loss. The South African platinum miner fell into the red in the year to September 30 as prices for the precious metal slumped in line wit
Read moreLondon open: Winning start to week
16th Nov 2009 08:42
Mining heavyweights head the pack Monday, notching up strong gains on record gold prices and demand for other metals. Randgold is top of the pile after gold hit a new record high. Rio Tinto, Xstrata and Kazakhmys are also riding high. Even Lonmin is better despite reporting a full-year loss. The S
Read moreUnited Utilities raises £87m from Northern Gas sale
16th Nov 2009 07:03
United Utilities has agreed the disposal of its 15% investment in Northern Gas Networks Holdings to its other owners for a cash consideration of £85.75m. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of 2009. The other owners are Cheung Kong Infrastructure ; Beta Central Profits, a wholly-ow
Read moreUU sells stake in Manila Water
12th Nov 2009 07:29
Utility company United Utilities is to raise $73m in cash by selling off its stake in the Manila Water Company (MWC). United Utilities (UU) has an 11.67% shareholding in the Filipino utility company, which it is selling to diversified conglomerate Ayala Corporation, and to UU associate company Phil
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: BAE Systems, Aviva, Lloyds Banking
4th Oct 2009 10:09
Directors of BAE Systems rejected a £300m settlement of a Serious Fraud Office investigation after receiving advice they would leave themselves open to civil lawsuits for a misuse of shareholders' funds. The offer, made by the SFO in recent weeks, came after lengthy talks over a plea bargain deal t
Read moreBritish Airways soars in best ever quarter for Footsie
30th Sep 2009 17:18
Any doubts that this is a bull-market have been quashed by the FTSE 100 putting in its best ever quarterly performance since the index's inception in 1984. After closing at 5133.90 on Wednesday, 30 September 2009, the FTSE 100 was sitting 20.82% higher than at the end of June. In points terms, the
Read moreThursday tips round-up: United Utilities, Yell, Game
24th Sep 2009 06:01
Even at eight times next year's forecast earnings, United Utilities is not a stock to be buying, and is probably not even one to hang on to for investors looking to cash in any time soon. Water is a decent backbone for a portfolio, but United Utilities looks the weakest link among its peers. Sell, s
Read moreLondon close: Footsie dips into the red
23rd Sep 2009 17:05
A late swoon saw London's blue-chip index give up the gains of the morning to close marginally lower on the day, as investors banked profits ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision this evening on US interest rates and its quantitative easing (QE) programme. The morning's gains had been achieved on
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie nears intra-day high
23rd Sep 2009 14:01
The market's climb regained momentum over the lunchtime session. Investors have been put in the mood to buy by the prospect of the Bank of England increasing its quantitative easing programme some time in the future. The minutes to the most recent meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy co
Read moreLondon midday: Market rises despite cash calls
23rd Sep 2009 11:55
The market is off the top but still in positive territory, despite a flood of fund raising announcements this morning. Property group Liberty International shares have been hit by a placing today of up to 56.1m new shares, increasing its shares in issue by just under 10%. The fund raising comes l
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