London midday: Pause for breath after euro boost
28th Oct 2011 12:01
Shares are still flat amid a quiet day on the company news front, giving traders a chance to sit back and appraise the latest developments in the Eurozone saga. SUBDUED START AFTER YESTERDAY'S SURGE Stock markets across the globe surged higher yesterday, with the three US benchmarks rising by an a
Read moreUPDATE: Friday broker round-up
28th Oct 2011 09:13
HSBC/Standard Chartered: Citi chief economist William Buiter argues today that: "World trade is set for a prolonged boom and a marked transformation. Transaction banking and trade finance should track the direction of trade and economic growth in the long term. (...) Standard Chartered and HSBC shou
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for the Footsie
28th Oct 2011 08:40
The FTSE 100 opened flat on Friday morning following yesterday's massive 2.9% gain on the back of strong US economic data and the pivotal Eurozone agreements announced yesterday. SUBDUED START AFTER STRONG DAY ON THURSDAY Stock markets across the globe surged higher yesterday, with the three US b
Read moreLondon pre-open: Advance to continue at more sedate pace
28th Oct 2011 07:21
There is still a bullish outlook in London following the Brussels summit meeting announcement on Wednesday night, but gains are expected to be modest at the outset with the FTSE 100 tipped to open around 28 points up from yesterday's close of 5,714. Advertising conglomerate WPP saw like-for-like (
Read moreWPP ups margin forecast as sales accelerate -UPDATE
28th Oct 2011 07:06
WPP, the highly acquisitive advertising firm led by Sir Martin Sorrell, said that revenue growth accelerated in the third quarter as strong growth in the emerging markets outweighed slowing growth in North America. As such, the group said that its full-year operating margin should improve beyond th
Read moreFriday preview: Shire, WPP
27th Oct 2011 18:21
Up-and-coming drug group Shire may have a little more excitement to offer than its bigger peers who have already reported this week. Credit Suisse is looking for strong sales of the hyperactivity treatment Vyvanse and an update on the US regulatory filing for Replagal, a treatment for Fabry's diseas
Read moreUPDATE: Monday broker round-up
17th Oct 2011 09:31
Fresnillo: UBS cuts target to 1,700p from 2,000p, stays at neutral. Bunzl: Singer Capital Markets downgrades from buy to fair value, target cut from 891p to 710p. Kingfisher: Singer Capital Markets raises target from 260p to 270p. Jupiter Fund Management: RBS upgrades to hold from sell, raises ta
Read moreLondon close: Higher finish after choppy day
12th Oct 2011 16:36
London's leading share index closed in the blue as worries over the Slovak parliament's rejection of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) gave way to optimism that it will be passed. SLOVAK SEE-SAW Late Tuesday night, just 55 of the 150 MPs in Slovakia's parliament voted in favour of expan
Read moreLondon midday: Stocks rally as Slovak shock fades
12th Oct 2011 12:05
London's leading share index has staged an impressive rally with worries following the Slovakian parliament's rejection of the euro bailout fund giving way to hopes that the small central European state will soon ratify the deal. SLOVAK HEADACHE, GERMAN REASSURANCE Late Tuesday night, just 55 of t
Read moreLondon open: EFSF worries weigh on Footsie
12th Oct 2011 08:28
Just eight of the 100 stocks on the Footsie were making gains on Wednesday morning, following the news that the Slovakia failed to agree on the extension of the Eurozone rescue fund. SLOVAKIAN HEADACHE Late Tuesday night, just 55 of the 150 MPs in Slovakia's parliament voted in favour of expanding
Read moreWPP gobbles up Chinese digital agency
12th Oct 2011 07:42
WPP, the FTSE 100 advertising firm, has agreed to take a majority stake in the Chinese digital agency A4A. Founded in 2003 and based in Beijing, A4A's offering includes digital strategy, social media and online advertising. A4A's revenues for 2010 were approximately £1.6m. The agency's client lis
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie up 2% as BoE injects more money
6th Oct 2011 12:07
The Footsie has held onto gains following the Bank of England's surprise move to increase its asset purchase programme by a bigger-than-expected £75bn. In an announcement at midday, the central bank revealed that it has maintained its key Bank Rate at the historically low level of 0.5%, but raised
Read moreLondon open: Miners in demand ahead of rate decisions
6th Oct 2011 08:35
Strong gains were made on the Footsie in early trade as investors await key policy rate decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB). Meanwhile, the market extended Wednesday's gains on hopes that the European Union is planning for a co-ordinated recapitalisation of
Read moreWPP steps up expansion in Africa
6th Oct 2011 07:08
WPP, the FTSE 100 advertising and marketing group led by chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell, has agreed to purchase a large stake in South African consultancy Arcay Communications for an undisclosed sum. Through its wholly-owned PR and public affairs subsidiary, Burson-Marsteller, WPP announced tha
Read moreWPP hopes to garner more business in Ghana
30th Sep 2011 09:40
Advertising firm WPP is extending its reach in sub-Saharan Africa through the creation of two joint ventures in Ghana with local operators. WPP's wholly owned subsidiary, Ogilvy, and Scangroup, one of Africa's leading marketing services groups in which WPP also owns a minority stake, will jointly c
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