FTSE 100 movers: M&A speculation lifts TUI Travel
5th Apr 2011 16:28
M&A chatter is lifting TUI Travel, the owner of Thomson and other holiday brands. Its parent group, Germany's TUI AG, is said to be considering selling its stake in the shipping group Hapag-Lloyd. Advertising giant WPP is buying a minority stake in Canadian firm Vice Holdings, a global youth media
Read moreLondon afternoon: Stocks still sleepwalking
5th Apr 2011 14:16
London is still in a somnambulant mood on a day that is light on big company news, with Footsie still in the red despite a moderate revival over the lunch time session. Music and film retailer HMV continues to struggle against tough conditions on the high street and competition from supermarkets an
Read moreLondon midday: Shares in wait-and-see mode
5th Apr 2011 12:04
Shares are still subdued as investors look ahead to a stream of economic news beginning tonight. There has been some M&A to stir up excitement though. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee while later in the week the
Read moreLondon open: Shares unchanged ahead of economic announcements
5th Apr 2011 08:24
Traders are sitting on their hands amid a shortage of big company news and ahead of some important economic announcements. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee while later in the week the Bank of England and the Euro
Read moreLondon pre-open: Stuck in neutral
5th Apr 2011 07:40
It is a big week for economic announcements and investors remain reluctant to commit themselves until they have heard from the central banks in the UK, US and continental Europe. The US Federal Reserve is due tonight to publish the minutes from the most recent meeting of its rate-setting committee
Read moreWPP goes for youth market
5th Apr 2011 07:10
Barely a third of the year has gone and already advertising giant WPP must be thinking about getting a new cheque book after it announced another acquisition. This time round WPP is buying a minority stake in Vice Holdings, a global youth media brand that operates in more than 30 countries. Launc
Read moreWPP set to return to UK
24th Mar 2011 10:58
Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of ad agency giant WPP, has dropped his heaviest hint yet that yesterday's Budget changes to company taxes will encourage the firm to re-locate back to Britain. Sir Martin told the BBC this morning "There has to be legislation enacted but I think it looks as thou
Read moreLondon close: Carnival sinks
22nd Mar 2011 16:57
A confident start was derailed by worse than expected inflation figures and a rally in the final hour of trading only brought out profit takers right at the death, leaving Footsie in the red. UK annual inflation rose faster than predicted in February, as surging utility bills drove up living costs.
Read moreLondon afternoon: Downward drift continues
22nd Mar 2011 14:09
Footsie lost more ground over the lunch time session as Wall Street opened mixed, failing to carry on the strong advance seen yesterday. GKN is lower on speculation of a bid for French peer Latecoere. The French aerospace firm, which provides doors for Boeing and Airbus, is looking for a buyer, acc
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Cairn results well received
22nd Mar 2011 13:55
Cairn Energy is higher following its 2010 results, even though there was no news on the Cairn India stake sale to Vedanta Resources. Cairn posted a net profit of $1.08bn in 2010. An update on the oil explorer's plans for Greenland was generally well received. RBS analyst Phil Corbett said that Gre
Read moreLondon midday: Inflation shock spoils the party
22nd Mar 2011 11:39
Disappointing inflation data seems to have put paid to Footsie's attempts to continue its recent revival. The inflation rate, as measured by the consumer prices index, rose to 4.4% in February from 4.0% in January. The rate topped market expectations of a figure of 4.2% and will pile on the pressur
Read moreMonday newspaper round-up: Budget, Inflation, Vodafone...
21st Mar 2011 06:41
A fresh upward lurch in inflation is set to punch a new hole in household finances on the eve of George Osborne's Budget. The consumer prices index is expected to have risen an annual 4.2% last month, economists warned ahead of figures due out tomorrow. The following day, the Government's Office fo
Read moreSunday tips round-up: Centrica, CPP, WPP...
6th Mar 2011 11:19
Centrica is a buy despite the big unknowns of a looming reform of the country's electricity market - with crucial consequences for the potential returns of utility investors - and a possible Competition Commission inquiry. But ministers don't have much choice but to make decisions that keep the ene
Read moreLondon close: Lower finish as Libya turmoil persists
4th Mar 2011 16:56
The top share index closed in the red going into the weekend as the spectre of high oil prices remerged amid continuing turmoil in Libya. Brent crude rose above $116 a barrel as the conflict in Libya continues. Government forces have been cracking down on protesters in Tripoli and there have been c
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie turns red
4th Mar 2011 15:19
A weak start on Wall Street has sent London to an intra-day low, with miners turning tail. US monthly non-farm payrolls were better than expected, but not by much. Investors don't look keen to open up any new positions ahead of the weekend. Mining heavyweights Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Kazakh
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