FTSE 100 movers: Essar tops the risers after 'solid' quarter
17th May 2011 15:35
India-focused energy firm Essar Energy is the best performer after it reported a "solid operating performance" in the first quarter with total generation 10% higher than the same period the year before. Mobile telecommunications giant Vodafone is one of the high risers after strong growth in emerg
Read moreLondon open: Stocks ease despite cheery updates
17th May 2011 08:28
Stocks are back below 5,900 points despite a decent reception for company updates. Strong growth in emerging markets and the increasing popularity of smartphones helped the mobile telecommunications giant Vodafone post higher revenues and profits in the year to 31 March. Adjusted pre-tax profits ro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stocks to follow Wall Street lower
17th May 2011 07:45
Last night's late rally in London is not expected to continue, with stocks set to follow Wall Street lower, as concerns about the Greek debt crisis rumble on. City traders expect the Footsie to open around 30 points lower at 5,893. Strong growth in emerging markets and the increasing popularity of
Read moreSmartphone effect boosts Vodafone
17th May 2011 07:09
Strong growth in emerging markets and the increasing popularity of smartphones helped the mobile telecommunications giant Vodafone post higher revenues and profits in the year to 31 March. Adjusted pre-tax profits rose to £11bn from £10.6bn on revenues that were up to £45.9bn from £44.5bn. "The pa
Read moreTuesday preview: Aviva, Vodafone
16th May 2011 16:22
General insurer Aviva brings out a first quarter interim management statement on Tuesday that will include life new business figures. Broker Panmure Gordon is forecasting sales of £9,475m on a present value of new business premiums basis, and expects business margins to have improved from 2010. "T
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: House prices, M&A slowdown, Strauss-Kahn
16th May 2011 06:30
A lack of new properties on the market has pushed the average house price in England and Wales up to its highest level in nearly three years. The property website Rightmove said that prices rose by 1.3% over the past month to deliver an average of £238,874 ? the highest level since June 2008. Prices
Read moreWeek Ahead: Vodafone, Compass, BoE minutes
13th May 2011 11:49
Vodafone has edged ahead of BP as Britain's third largest company by market value, after a good run over the last year, driven by the company's programme of selling off minority stakes in non-core businesses. On Tuesday, the telecoms giant brings out full year results, with the market expecting pro
Read moreSector movers: Morgan Crucible boosts electrical stocks
10th May 2011 15:53
Strong gains for Morgan Crucible have helped the electronic and electrical equipment sector higher on Tuesday. The industrial carbon and ceramic products manufacturer posted a better than expected performance in the first four months of the year and is confident of being modestly ahead of expectati
Read moreSector movers: Centrica dampens utility stocks
9th May 2011 14:07
Centrica is providing a drag in the gas, water and multiutilities sector, the worst performing sector of the day. The energy group is currently the heaviest faller on the FTSE 100 after it said it expects profits growth in 2011 to be more subdued than previously anticipated due to the new tax regim
Read moreSector movers: Mondi boosts forestry and paper
21st Apr 2011 13:50
Paper and packaging firm Mondi is boosting the forestry and paper sector higher today after a kind word from RBS. The broker said - ahead of the group's first quarter statement due in two weeks - that it is expected to show "continued positive volume growth with price increases offsetting rising in
Read moreSector movers: Nanoco lifts tech stocks higher
5th Apr 2011 16:48
The technology hardware and equipment sector is being lifted by AIM-quoted Nanoco, which makes cadmium-free quantum dots used in lighting and solar panels. The company announced today that following the completion of its material joint development agreement with a major Japanese electronics group,
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: M&A speculation lifts TUI Travel
5th Apr 2011 16:28
M&A chatter is lifting TUI Travel, the owner of Thomson and other holiday brands. Its parent group, Germany's TUI AG, is said to be considering selling its stake in the shipping group Hapag-Lloyd. Advertising giant WPP is buying a minority stake in Canadian firm Vice Holdings, a global youth media
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Barclays, Kesa Electricals
5th Apr 2011 12:31
Nomura slightly reduces its target price for telecoms titan Vodafone as consensus aligns to a more cautious margin outlook. The group sold its 44% holding in French mobile phone group SRF to media firm Vivendi on Monday for €7.75bn (£6.8bn) in cash, which the broker believes was a good price. Wit
Read moreBroker snap: Cautious margin outlook at Vodafone
5th Apr 2011 11:07
Nomura slightly reduces its target price for telecoms titan Vodafone as consensus aligns to a more cautious margin outlook. The group sold its 44% holding in French mobile phone group SRF to media firm Vivendi on Monday for €7.75bn (£6.8bn) in cash, which the broker believes was a good price. Wit
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Aggreko leads the way
4th Apr 2011 17:32
Temporary power supplier Aggreko was the best performer of the day after announcing that it is to help Japan keep its electricity supply up and running after last month's devastating earthquake. National Grid edged higher after RBS upgraded the power and gas grid operator to a 'hold', from 'sell',
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