London midday: Smith & Nephew leads rally
31st Aug 2011 12:01
Shares have built on their earlier gains, though the rally is unlikely to be enough to prevent the biggest monthly fall since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008. Among today's big gainers is bid rumour-mongers' favourite Smith & Nephew. Latest talk has it that peer Stryker could be inter
Read moreLondon open: Bwin, 888 lead the rise
31st Aug 2011 08:48
The Footsie edged higher in early trading on the back of a rally in New York last night after minutes from the last meeting of the Federal Reserve showed policymakers considered stimulus measures to kickstart the world's biggest economy. In London, online gaming firm bwin.party surged higher on the
Read moreLondon close: Autonomy movement helps limit losses
19th Aug 2011 16:38
Stocks finished in the red heading into the weekend but off their daily lows, having bounced back into the blue from heavy losses earlier on. Today's standout stock was Autonomy rocketed by over 75% in early trading after US computing giant Hewlett-Packard made a recommended offer for the Cambridge
Read moreSector movers: Software stocks rise on Autonomy deal
19th Aug 2011 15:28
Software and computer services was the highest performing sector, benefiting from a move by US computing giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) which made a recommended offer for Cambridge-based software firm Autonomy. HP is offering 2550p for each Autonomy in a deal that values the data search software compa
Read moreLondon midday: Lloyds and RBS fall again as FTSE 100 slides
19th Aug 2011 12:03
The leading share index is stuck below the 5,000 point mark amid continuing worries over the global economic situation. Banks Lloyds and RBS are suffering hefty losses again as is IAG, the owner of British Airways. But shares in Autonomy rocketed by over 75% in early trading after US computing gi
Read moreLondon open: Autonomy bucks trend as Footsie tumbles
19th Aug 2011 08:27
The Footsie tumbled over 1% in the opening minutes on Friday, despite a surge by software giant Autonomy. However, Autonomy was just one of the four lone stocks making gains, as the blue chip index looks set to fall below the 5,000 mark. Shares in Autonomy rocketed by over 75% in early trading afte
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 rallies to close with gains
16th Aug 2011 16:50
The FTSE 100 found strength as the day progressed, helped by some economic data from the US, and managed to finish with gains. Sentiment had been depressed earlier on by figures on this side of the pond. The Eurozone economy grew by a paltry 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous thr
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks fall back amid economic worries
16th Aug 2011 12:08
Stocks are firmly in the red as investors digest some sobering economic data both at home and abroad. The Eurozone economy grew by a paltry 0.2% in the second quarter compared with the previous three month period amid a sharp slowdown in growth in the trading bloc's economic powerhouse Germany. He
Read moreFTSE 100 Movers: Rangold benefits from gold rush
16th Aug 2011 09:51
In morning trading the FTSE 100 dropped 0.9% to 5,299.05, with both banks and mining stocks down. Randgold Resources saw a boost off the back of a rising gold price, and a flight to safety by risk-averse investors. Oil company Cairn is lower after RBS cut its rating from 'buy' to 'hold'. Enginee
Read moreLondon open: Miners, engineers lead fallers
16th Aug 2011 08:33
Just four stocks were making gains in early trading as London's blue chip index slipped 1% lower. The Footsie gave up its gains made on Monday and was trading below the 5,300 mark as miners and engineers provided a drag. Randgold Resources was among the few risers, tracking the price of gold higher
Read moreSector movers: Weir claws back after recent sell-off
12th Aug 2011 14:40
For the second day in a row, there were no sectors in the red on Friday, as markets in London, Europe and the US were all posting impressive gains, clawing their way back from the recent global sell-off. High-flying Scottish engineer Weir Group was rising on the FTSE 100 on Friday afternoon, pullin
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Interserve, Inmarsat, Weir Group
11th Aug 2011 06:35
These are busy times for Interserve. The group's support services side does work for a number of London boroughs and for the Metropolitan Police, including running the CCTV control centres at Croydon and Ealing. The shares, up 10.5% to 326½p yesterday, sell on a relatively inexpensive earnings multi
Read moreLondon open: Flat start as Antofagasta and Vedanta rally
9th Aug 2011 08:26
Stocks are flat this morning, despite the predictions of a resumption of the slide, though recent volatility suggests it would be foolish to rule that out. Miners are rallying from hefty losses, yesterday, with South American copper group Antofagasta and India's Vedanta posting big gains. Precious
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie spinning its wheels
2nd Aug 2011 07:36
Stocks are set for an indecisive start, with bears pointing to weaker than expected US manufacturing data and bulls focussing on the successful passage through the US House of Representatives of the budget deficit reduction bill last night. City traders expect the FTSE 100 will open a couple of poi
Read moreWeir raises expectations
2nd Aug 2011 07:13
High-flying Scottish engineering company Weir Group is set for an even better year than it previously expected, as new orders streamed in during the first half of the year. Order input shot up 43% to £1,225m in the first half of 2011 from £859m in the corresponding period of 2010. Revenue grew 33%
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