London close: Stocks retreat further from record on weak US data, Greece
29th Apr 2015 16:30
Stocks dropped sharply again on Wednesday as gloomy US economic data and ongoing uncertainty in Greece hammered sentiment. London's FTSE 100 finished 1.2% lower at 6,946.28, with investors extra cautious ahead of a policy statement at the Federal Reserve after the close. This was the second straigh
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Weir rockets on quarterly beat, Antofagasta hit by production cuts
29th Apr 2015 13:19
Industrial engineer Weir Group topped the risers after delivering a better-than-expected first quarter from minerals, its largest division. However, the company did say it was "taking further action to support profitability" in its oil and gas division amid tough conditions. Shares of Intercontinent
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks pause ahead of US GDP and Fed announcement
29th Apr 2015 12:06
UK stocks markets wavered on Wednesday after a sell-off the previous session as investors treaded lightly ahead of economic growth data and a policy decision Stateside. London's FTSE 100 was trading 0.04% lower at 7,027.68 by midday with a flurry of mixed corporate earnings to digest from the likes
Read moreLondon open: Stocks flatline amid earnings flurry ahead of FOMC
29th Apr 2015 09:16
UK stocks opened flat on Wednesday morning as investors digested a barrage of blue-chip earnings and awaited a Federal Reserve policy decision in the US. The FTSE 100 was trading just 0.03% lower at 7,028.48 early on. The index had retreated on Tuesday to 7,030.53 after setting a new all-time closi
Read moreWeir Group plans more layoffs after "challenging" first quarter for oil and gas
29th Apr 2015 07:51
Industrial engineer Weir Group said it was "taking further action to support profitability" with further cost cuts in its oil and gas division after a challenging first quarter. Order input across the whole company was down 9% on the same period last year and 10% lower than the fourth quarter of 201
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rise modestly amid Greek talks, UK economic data
17th Apr 2015 08:35
Stocks in London advanced on Friday morning on a quiet day for corporate newsflow, with investors awaiting key employment data from the UK while digesting Greek debt talks. "The FTSE opened the day on the positive side of flat, after yesterday afternoon's [...] declines pulled the index away from it
Read moreLondon open: LSE and Easyjet lead stocks lower, oil prices spike
26th Mar 2015 08:55
UK stocks dropped sharply on Thursday morning following a steep sell-off on Wall Street, with financial and airline shares providing a drag. The FTSE 100 was down 1% at 6,919.49 early on as it continues to pull back from the fresh all-time closing high of 7,037.67 reached on Monday. The London Stoc
Read moreLondon close: FTSE ekes out new record despite Greek uncertainty
23rd Mar 2015 17:19
After a subdued start, the Footsie managed to edge higher to a new record on Monday though worries about Greece limited upside for London's stocks. The FTSE 100 finished the session up 0.22% at 7,037.67, surpassing the previous all-time closing high of 7,022.51 set on Friday. Stocks on the continen
Read moreMonday broker round-up
23rd Mar 2015 13:51
RBS: Nomura reiterates buy and lowers target to 350p from 370p. WPP: Westhouse Securities reiterates add lifts target to 1732p from 1577p. HSBC: Nomura reiterates neutral and shaves target to 590p. StanChart: JP Morgan upgrades to overweight. Citi reiterates buy and lifts target to 1300p from 1250
Read moreBroker tips: Standard Chartered, Carnival, Smith & Nephew, Weir
23rd Mar 2015 12:24
UK listed bank Standard Chartered has had its rating promoted to 'overweight' from 'neutral' at JPMorgan. The US bank said that although it is hesitant to change its view for the arrival of the new chief executive which has been a material positive, "we believe that last week's UK budget may lead th
Read moreWeir Group hit by RBC downgrade, risk-reward now balanced
23rd Mar 2015 10:38
Shares in Weir Group were being weighed down on Monday by a ratings cut at RBC Capital Markets, which said that the risk-reward for new investors is now balanced. The broker lowered its stance on the engineering outfit from 'top pick' to 'sector perform' and slashed its target price from 2,150p to 1
Read moreThursday broker round-up
19th Mar 2015 15:59
Smiths Group: Charles Stanley downgrades to reduce while Nomura reiterates buy recommendation. Weir Group: Barclays reiterates equalweight and 1,700p target. Prudential: Barclays reiterates overweight and lifts target to 1,868p. Serco: Jefferies reiterates hold but trims target to 185p from 195p.
Read moreLondon close: Stocks retreat as Fed rate fears outweigh ECB stimulus
6th Mar 2015 16:36
One day after loose monetary policy in Europe pushed UK stocks to a new record high, fears about a sooner-than-expected tightening in the States dragged markets lower on Friday after a forecast-smashing US jobs report. Mining stocks were providing a drag in London as commodity prices weakened in the
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Weir Group up on bid speculation, Miners lower on weak precious metal prices
6th Mar 2015 12:46
Shares in British engineering giant Weir Group rose on the back of market chatter that a cash-rich private equity consortium in the US is looking to table a 2,500p per share break-up offer for the group, compared with current prices at around 1,800p. ITV continued higher on Thursday's raised price t
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE pulls back from record highs ahead of US jobs data
6th Mar 2015 11:36
UK stocks were lower on Friday morning but trading within a narrow range with investors cautious ahead of the all-important US non-farm jobs report. Markets were also trading near never-before-seen heights, giving participants an extra reason to tread lightly in London. The FTSE 100 was down 0.12%
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