Broker snap: Smartphones bolster Vodafone growth
17th Mar 2011 10:31
Nomura keeps its positive stance on mobile telecoms giant Vodafone following an 'open office' meeting with its managers, as good progress is being experienced across the board, with a particular significance on its position in the smartphone industry. The group's operational managers from Germany,
Read moreOfcom move threatens pay-as-you-go model
15th Mar 2011 07:11
Telecoms regulator Ofcom has imposed an 80% reduction in mobile phone call termination rates, the charges one operator levies on another for handling calls from the rival's network. The new rates will be phased in over four years starting next month. From 1 April, Ofcom will place a cap on the rate
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: BG appoints new finance chief
14th Mar 2011 13:22
BG Group is higher following the appointment of Fabio Barbosa as its finance director. Barbosa was previously finance director of miner Vale and a director of the Brazilian stock exchange. Norwegian oil and gas producer DET NORSKE OLJESELSKAP is selling a 10% stake in the PL 522 licence, which i
Read moreTechMARK movers: Vodafone falls on SFR rumours
14th Mar 2011 12:50
Reports that Vivendi will not be willing to pay any more than £6bn for Vodafone's 44% stake in the French mobile phone operator SFR has hit the mobile phone giant's share price. Vivendi owns the controlling stake in SFR. Vodafone is also talking to Verizon Communications about pooling certain op
Read moreSunday newspaper round-up: Japan, Kaupthing, RBS...
13th Mar 2011 10:17
Japan's giant car industry has announced a major shutdown as fears grow over the economic impact of Friday's devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami which has crippled much of the north-east of the country. The three largest motor manufacturers - Toyota, Honda and Nissan - said they would sto
Read moreFidessa chairman reinvests past sale proceeds
10th Mar 2011 17:04
Fidessa chairman John Hamer has invested £327,000 in the financial software provider having sold shares last June for more than £3 a share less than his latest buying price. Hamer bought 20,000 shares at £16.35 each. This takes his stake to 35,594 shares. He has bought these shares early enough to
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 rallies to flat finish
8th Mar 2011 16:53
The FTSE 100 rallied strongly to close flat after a volatile. Traders were unsure how to react to continuing violence in Libya and indications from Opec that the cartel will lift oil production. The oil price eased, but so did metals, which dealt a blow to the mining sector, particularly precious m
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners drag down Footsie
8th Mar 2011 14:34
Mining stocks are weighing heavily on Footsie as the price of gold and copper moved lower today. Precious metal miners Randgold Resources and African Barrick are the big fallers in the sector, but even copper miner Antofagasta is under the cosh, despite announcing it is to pay a huge special divid
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE 100 still seeking direction
8th Mar 2011 12:03
Shares are still seeking direction, with the Libyan turmoil continuing to dominate the headlines. US light crude for April delivery fell $1.60 to $103.84 a barrel. Saudi Arabia and others are going to raise output to keep the global economic recovery on track. The easing in prices came after Kuwai
Read moreLondon open: Oil to dominate again
8th Mar 2011 08:47
Oil and Libya are set to dominate again after yesterday's frantic trading on oil markets. US light crude for April delivery is currently down $1.60 at $103.84 a barrel. Saudi Arabia and others are going to raise output to keep the global economic recovery on track. That has taken some of the pressu
Read moreXstrata appoints Bond as chairman as Strothotte retires
7th Mar 2011 07:09
Mining giant Xstrata has moved quickly to snap up the outgoing Vodafone chairman Sir John Bond as its new chairman of the board. Sir John will replace Willy Strothotte, who is to retire after the AGM on 4 May. "It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of Xstrata plc since its inception in 2002
Read moreFriday newspaper round-up: Oil, BSkyB, RBS...
25th Feb 2011 06:49
Saudi Arabia moved to calm mounting global fears of an oil supply crisis after panic buying sent crude prices to a 2½-year peak of almost $120 a barrel. Indicating that Opec's biggest producer is prepared to increase supplies, the kingdom entered "active talks" with European oil companies on how to
Read moreWednesday newspaper round-up: BHP Billiton, Mervyn King, Farepak...
16th Feb 2011 06:32
Booming commodity prices spurred BHP Billiton to announce last night that it will return $10bn to shareholders and invest $80bn in new mines over the next five years. Profits at the global mining group beat expectations to hit a record $10.5bn in the first half of 2010, a 72% rise on the same perio
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Rio Tinto, Rolls-Royce, Diageo...
11th Feb 2011 06:59
Rio Tinto, which in the bad days of spring 2009 had debts of $39bn (£24.2bn) after the badly timed purchase of Alcan in 2007, exited last year with just $4.3bn of borrowings, or gearing of 6%. It generated a record $23.5bn of cash last year, up 70% on 2009. This is by any standards a staggering tu
Read moreBroker tips: Vodafone, Schroders, Unilever
4th Feb 2011 13:31
Mobile phone titan Vodafone's upbeat trading statement on Thursday should improve sentiment and encourage a premium rating for the stock, Nomura Research believes. "Vodafone's US exposure should also command a premium given the more co-operative atmosphere at Verizon Wireless," where Vodafone hold
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