London open: Cash calls can't halt rise
23rd Sep 2009 08:47
UK markets have risen again in early dealings despite a string of hefty cash calls from the building and property sector. Property group Liberty International shares have been hit by a placing today of up to 56.1m new shares, some 9.9% of its shares in issue. Housebuilder Barratt is issuing a lot
Read moreLondon pre-open: Higher start expected
23rd Sep 2009 07:36
Footsie is expected to edge up in early dealings, building on yesterday's modest gains. United Utilities said it is on track to deliver results in line with its expectations of a "sound underlying financial performance" for the six months ending to September. The group said underlying operating pro
Read moreUnited Utilities on track
23rd Sep 2009 07:19
United Utilities said it is on track to deliver results in line with its expectations of a "sound underlying financial performance" for the six months ending to September. The group said underlying operating profit in the regulated business is expected to broadly be in line with the first half of l
Read moreLondon close: Shares end up but down from highs
22nd Sep 2009 16:39
London's leading shares finished with slight gains but were well below earlier highs as miners eased back slightly. Eurasian Natural Resources, Lonmin, Xstrata and Vedanta Resources still posted healthy gains, while precious metals miners Fresnillo and Randgold Resources were also on the climb. R
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares off the top
22nd Sep 2009 14:07
Shares drifted lower over the lunchtime session but are still up on the day, helped in no small part by the strength of miners, which are rising in line with firmer metals prices. Rio Tinto is wanted after it sold off another chunk of Alcan. The heavily indebted miner sold Alcan Composites, part of
Read moreLondon midday: Rio's assets sale continues
22nd Sep 2009 12:10
Miners continue to lead the market higher as investors return to the market after yesterday's pause for breath. Rio Tinto is wanted after it sold off another chunk of Alcan. The heavily indebted miner sold Alcan Composites, part of the Alcan Engineered Products division, to Swiss firm Schweiter Tec
Read moreSector movers: Miners resume rally
22nd Sep 2009 09:29
Mining stocks are going well as metals prices resume their rally after a pause yesterday. Among the risers is the FTSE 100 giant Rio Tinto, which said today that it is to continue its selling spree by selling Alcan Composites, part of its Alcan Engineered Products division. Selling news also boo
Read moreComment: The Post-Lehman Landscape
19th Sep 2009 11:53
This week marked the anniversary of the demise of US investment banking giant Lehman Brothers and the collapse of insurance behemoth AIG, two events that threatened to bring about the implosion of the world's financial system. Yet, here we are, a year later and the UK's major stock indices have stru
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie consolidates gains
16th Sep 2009 14:30
The number of FTSE 100 constituents in the red today is in single figures as investors chase up share prices in the wake of relatively upbeat comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last night. Bernanke said the US recession 'is very likely over at this point,' prompting an advance by gl
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie breaks through 5100
16th Sep 2009 11:58
Leading shares rose steadily throughout the morning session pushing the FTSE 100 index through the 5100 barrier. Mining stocks are responsible for much of the rise as metals prices head north after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the US recession 'is very likely over at this point' in a s
Read moreLondon close: Footsie rally continues
25th Aug 2009 16:32
After an afternoon of see-sawing between the red and the blue, Footsie finished in positive territory and above the 4,900 point mark, continuing its rally. State-owned lender Royal Bank of Scotland finished with good gains after it said it will cut the level of benefits received by members of its
Read moreLondon afternoon: US data encourages Footsie
25th Aug 2009 15:11
A strong start on Wall Street is keeping London in the blue, just, with investors welcoming a bigger than expected jump in US consumer confidence. The leading index remains on course for a sixth consecutive day of gains after state-owned lender Royal Bank of Scotland said it will cut the level of b
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Miners weigh on index
25th Aug 2009 14:12
Miners are still leading the blue chip fallers. Kazakhmys, Xstrata, Antofagasta, Eurasian Natural Resources, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Randgold Resources are among the worst in the sector. Royal Bank of Scotland is topping the risers, while Standard Chartered is lower after the FT reported the s
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie still in the red
25th Aug 2009 11:54
Despite threatening to move back into positive territory an hour ago, the Footsie has slid further back down into the red. Miners are still heavily weak with seven out of the top ten losers so far from the sector. Kazakhmys, Xstrata, Antofagasta, Eurasian Natural Resources, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton
Read moreSunday tips round-up: RPC, United Utilities, Cadbury
26th Jul 2009 12:29
RPC makes rigid plastic packaging for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. All of its products are made from oil - and this is benefiting the group on the cost front. Last year the company boosted its dividend payment by 3.3% to a total of 9.3p, this was more than most analysts had b
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