London close: Footsie runs out of steam
26th Aug 2009 16:27
Wall Street's inability to hold onto new home sale-inspired gains was the final nail in the coffin for London, bringing to an end a six-day winning streak. Much of the blame lay with the UK-listed miners who hogged the list of largest losers on weaker metal prices. Antofagasta was among the worst
Read moreLondon afternoon: RBS buoyed by pension moves
26th Aug 2009 14:32
Equity prices are mixed with a lower bias. The Footsie continues to drift lower, weighed down by underperforming resource stocks. Pre-tax profits plunged at Tullow in the first half of the year as the firm felt the pinch of the slide in oil prices. The oil company posted a pre-tax profit of £34.
Read moreSector movers: Oil services firms slip as profits slide
26th Aug 2009 12:18
Oil equipment and services stocks are lower after two companies reminded the market how tough times are in the sector. John Wood saw profits slide in the half-year as the tough market conditions hit exploration and production (E&P) spending worldwide. UAE-focused oil and gas engineering services g
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Punch Taverns still fizzing
26th Aug 2009 12:16
Punch Taverns is higer again after Shore Capital reinitiated the pub group as a 'buy' following yesterday's upbeat trading update. Fellow pub landlords Enterprise Inns and Marston's are also higher. Instrumentation and controls group Spectris continues rising after yesterday saying it expects to
Read moreLondon midday: Resource stocks a drag
26th Aug 2009 12:09
Given that resource stocks are in the dog-house the Footsie is doing well to be only moderately in the red on a day of mixed results for blue chips. Pre-tax profits plunged at Tullow in the first half of the year as the firm felt the pinch of the slide in oil prices. The oil company posted a pre-t
Read moreLondon open: Lower start for FTSE 100
26th Aug 2009 08:20
Footsie is slightly lower in early dealings, with the advertising group WPP the leading share index's heaviest faller after reporting interim results. WPP said half-year results continue to reflect the impact of the global economic contraction, which continued to intensify in the second quarter, th
Read moreJohn Wood hit by E&P spending decline
26th Aug 2009 07:40
Oil services group John Wood saw profits slide in the half-year as the tough market conditions hit exploration and production (E&P) spending worldwide. The group said the recent higher oil prices are likely to have little impact on E&P spending in the second half. Global E&P spend is expected to re
Read moreSector movers: Tech stocks defy Telit gloom
10th Jul 2009 15:45
Shares in wireless technology provider Telit Communications dropped sharply after it said it is seeing a continued downward trend in revenues despite higher sales as selling prices of products for connecting mobile phones fall more than expected. But overall, technology hardware & equipment is one
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Michael Page, Big Yellow, Cape
8th Jul 2009 06:44
Recruiter Michael Page issued its first-half trading update yesterday, saying that second-quarter profit fell by 45% to £83.8m. Perhaps more worryingly for investors is that it does not see things improving before the start of next year. The Independent dislikes the whole sector and believes the ris
Read moreLondon close: Late rally fizzles out
6th Jul 2009 16:37
Footsie made a brief attempt to lift itself into the blue in late trading but finished where it spent most of the day: firmly in negative territory. Declining metal and oil prices took their toll on resource stocks. Copper miners Lonmin and Kazakhmys are among the big fallers, despite both stocks b
Read moreLondon afternoon: Defensives in favour as stocks slide
6th Jul 2009 14:26
Footsie is halfway to a triple digit fall as resource stocks drag the market lower, with many pundits suggesting that the market may have bounced back too far since it reversed course in March. Declining metal and oil prices are taking their toll on resource stocks. Copper miners Lonmin and Kazakhm
Read moreLondon midday: Miners drag Footsie down
6th Jul 2009 12:07
Resource stocks have dragged Footise lower and with Wall Street predicted to open lower there is little prospect of a transatlantic boost in the afternoon session. Declining metal and oil prices are taking their toll on resource stocks. Copper miners Lonmin and Kazakhmys are among the big fallers,
Read moreLondon open: Weak start for Footsie
6th Jul 2009 08:56
London has opened sharply lower in early deals as traders await the return of Wall Street, back after Friday's Independence Day holiday. Miners are the worst performers after concern that the poor US jobs data heralds more economic woe for the country. Xtrata, Rio Tinto, Lonmin and Fresnillo are wo
Read moreFriday tips round-up: Greene King, Game, Wellstream
3rd Jul 2009 06:43
Greene King, the pub operator and brewer, reckons it is in a much better position than many of its rivals. The group issued its full-year numbers yesterday, saying that profits fell by 15%, which beat most analysts' expectations and led to a 3% rise in the share price. It is certainly one of the mo
Read moreLondon close: Footsie adds 2%
1st Jul 2009 16:34
Miners were rampant Wednesday on stronger commodity prices, leaving the sector heavyweights dominating the blue chip index. There was healthy demand for gold on the metal markets, while copper also improved. The red metal headed higher following strong Chinese manufacturing data, while decreasing s
Read more