London 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
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Talis purchase boosts Capita
4th Mar 2011 13:27
Outsourcing firm Capita Group has acquired Talis Information, a provider of management software and managed services to the academic sector. Fellow outsourcing group Serco is also higher after Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised its recommendation from neutral to buy. Advertising giant WPP made
Read moreBroker tips: Aviva, WH Smith, WPP
4th Mar 2011 13:02
Nomura continues to believe that insurance giant Aviva offers investors good growth prospects at an attractive price after an impressive 2010. The insurance group's cost reduction and focus on higher-margin product selection were the main drivers of a 26% increase in operating earnings. However,
Read moreLondon midday: Shares move cautiously higher
4th Mar 2011 12:06
The top share index is moderately higher today following big gains yesterday. Traders will be looking ahead to US job figures due at 1.30pm London time. The US non-farm payroll numbers at lunchtime will get the day traders excited, but may also show that the US economy's recovery is at last startin
Read moreBroker snap: WPP too light on UK exposure
4th Mar 2011 10:52
Barclays Capital (BarCap) expects advertising giant WPP to benefit from short-term momentum but sees better value in sector peers with more exposure to the UK. The debt ratings agencies have been down on WPP of late, which has affected the group's access to cheap capital, but this may be about to c
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