London open: Stock markets flat ahead of quiet day
13th Mar 2015 09:06
UK stocks were more or less flat in early deals on Friday ahead of a quiet day for the markets in terms of economic data and corporate news. London's FTSE 100 was trading up just 0.01% at 6,761.79 early on. As it stands, the Footsie is still nearly 3% lower than where it stood last Friday as a stre
Read moreLondon close: FTSE slips from record as Greek uncertainty resurfaces
25th Feb 2015 16:28
Renewed concerns about Greece prompted a retreat from all-time highs on Wednesday as investors scaled back their appetite for risk after a rally the previous session. London's FTSE 100 ended the day down 0.2% at 6,935.38, pulling back after hitting a new record close of 6,949.63 on Tuesday. Recent
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: St James's Place rockets on strong annual results, Weir slips on oil price outlook
25th Feb 2015 14:14
Wealth management group St James's Place topped the risers after it impressed City analysts on Wednesday with a solid set of annual results, as strong cash generation led it to hike its final dividend by 50%. Profits came in well ahead of the consensus forecast of £533m. Hospitality group Whitbread
Read moreLondon pre-open: Small retreat expected after Tuesday's record highs
25th Feb 2015 07:49
UK markets were expected to pull back slightly on Wednesday as investors tread cautiously following the new all-time highs reached the previous session. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around eight points lower than Tuesday's record close of 6,949.63. The index also reached a new intrada
Read moreCosta owner Whitbread expects annual results at top end of forecasts
25th Feb 2015 06:45
Hospitality group Whitbread said it expects full-year results to come in at the top end of expectations after a strong fourth quarter from its Premier Inn and Costa brands. Sales growth picked up to 14.3% in the 11 weeks to 12 February, from the 13% combined growth seen over the first three quarters
Read moreWednesday preview: Eyes on Whitbread, Weir Group earnings and China manufacturing data
24th Feb 2015 18:32
Leisure and hospitality giant Whitbread is expected report its fourth quarter trading update on Wednesday. The update is likely to be welcomed by markets due to an improving UK consumer environment and strength in the hotel market. Analysts at UBS forecast fourth quarter revenue per available room g
Read moreUniVision chairman increases stake in company
7th Jan 2015 16:13
The chairman of Hong-Kong-based UniVision Engineering bought shares in the company on Wednesday as a sign of confidence in improving business conditions for 2015. Stephen Sin Mo Koo, the chief of the electronic equipment firm, spent £14,550 to acquire 1.5m new shares. After buying the shares at an
Read moreLondon close: Markets extend losing streak as miners fall
11th Dec 2014 16:23
London's stock market declined for the fourth straight day on Thursday as ongoing concerns about global growth and heavy falls in the mining sector erased earlier gains. The FTSE 100 finished 0.6% lower at 6,462, closing at its lowest level since 4 November when it settled at 6,453.97. Mining stock
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Travel companies soar as miners sink
11th Dec 2014 16:21
Travel companies Easyjet and International Consolidated Airlines Group were boosted by the fall in oil prices, on hopes that lower fuel costs will boost profitability. Dixons Carphone was also among the risers after it emerged earlier this week that it surpassed its Christmas store opening targets.
Read moreBroker tips: BP, Whitbread, Oil engineering stocks
11th Dec 2014 12:18
Investec came away from BP's seminar this week with largely positive comments, saying that the oil major delivered a "confident upstream update" despite the recent sharp drop in oil prices to below $65 a barrel. However, the broker said that with uncertainties surrounding Russia and the continued fa
Read moreLondon midday: Mining stocks drag markets lower on ECB loan disappointment
11th Dec 2014 12:06
UK stocks retreated into the red after a positive start on Thursday as renewed concerns about the health of the Eurozone pressured mining stocks lower. Markets had edged higher early on after finishing the previous session at a five-week low, but gains were quickly erased after it was revealed that
Read moreCannaccord Genuity warns of tougher comparatives for Costa owner Whitbread
11th Dec 2014 11:26
Cannaccord Genuity has maintained a 'hold' recommendation on Whitbread despite an in-line trading update from the Costa and Premier Inn owner on Thursday, warning of tougher comparatives ahead of the leisure company. Third-quarter sales increased by 13.2% year-on-year, while like-for-like (LFL) sale
Read moreLondon open: Stocks rebound from five-week low as energy shares gain
11th Dec 2014 08:21
UK stocks edged higher on Thursday after sinking to a five-week low, though gains were only modest ahead of a data-heavy session. The FTSE 100 was up 0.3% at 6,520 early deals, helped by a small rebound in the energy sector. A three-day sell-off wiped 3.5% off the value of the Footsie and sent the
Read moreLondon pre-open: FTSE to drop after Japanese data, ahead of German inflation, US jobless claims
11th Dec 2014 07:19
City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 20 points lower than yesterday's close of 6,500 after Japanese data revealed overnight that its machine orders had dropped after four months of gains. There is also likely to be a good deal of concern ahead of the release of German inflation data, w
Read moreWhitbread LFL growth slows, but Costa owner still on track
11th Dec 2014 07:12
Whitbread, the owner of Costa coffee, Premier Inn and Beefeater, saw a slight slowdown in like-for-like (LFL) sales growth in the third quarter but said it remains on track to hit full-year forecasts. Group LFL sales increased by 6% year-on-year in the 13 weeks to 27 November, compared with the 7% r
Read more