London afternoon: Downward drift continues
9th Feb 2011 14:02
The blue-chip index drifted lower still over the lunchtime session after a lacklustre morning session. Footsie is weighed down by a sharp fall in the price of International Power as the power generating company's shares trade today without the right to receive the recent 92p special dividend. Ci
Read moreBrokers rush to slash Xchanging forecasts
9th Feb 2011 08:39
Outsourcing specialist Xchanging has parted ways with its chief executive and also binned its 2010 dividend after announcing a shock profits warning on Wednesday morning. Though revenue and underlying operating profit for 2010 are both expected to be within the current range of analysts' estimates,
Read moreBroker tips: Rio Tinto, Reckitt Benckiser, Xchanging
13th Dec 2010 13:58
Nomura's 2011 forecasts for Rio Tinto are ahead of consensus as the broker expects average realised iron ore prices to rise substantially more. The broker sees supply growth limited to 9% as increasing shortages of skilled labour and environmental issues continue to delay large expansion projects,
Read moreBroker snap: Panmure cautious over Xchanging
13th Dec 2010 12:31
Panmure Gordon continues to believe the risk profile of business processing outsourcing specialist Xchanging remains high, retaining its cautious stance on the stock. "Until we see real signs of recovery in the business we are likely to remain cautious, and therefore maintain a 'hold' recommendatio
Read moreTuesday tips round-up: Smiths, Weir, Xchanging...
2nd Nov 2010 06:46
Smiths, the technology group, enjoyed steady gains on the stock market yesterday as investors woke up to what could be an unexpected boost to its bottom line. The interest was triggered by the recently foiled cargo bomb plot, in which explosive devices were posted in Yemen with the freight firms UPS
Read moreLondon close: US breathes life back into Footsie
1st Nov 2010 16:42
A good early performance from Wall Street helped Footsie snap out of a weak spell to close in positive territory. US shares were boosted by a bigger than expected rise in factory output in October. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index rose to 56.9 last month. Analysts thought
Read moreLondon afternoon: Banks and miners lead advance
1st Nov 2010 15:14
Footsie pulled out of its late morning slump over the lunch time session to move firmly back into positive territory, though investors are still reluctant to commit too heavily ahead of tomorrow's mid-term US elections, and the quantitative easing decisions expected this week from the Bank of Englan
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie subdued after buoyant start
1st Nov 2010 12:02
Footsie has failed to rediscover its early-morning buoyancy and sits in the blue by a few points. Among the laggards is Serco. The company, which carries out work for the government such as operating prisons and London's Docklands Light Railway, has taken a knock after it was forced to make a grove
Read moreLondon open: Footsie charges higher
1st Nov 2010 08:32
High demand for banks and miners got the week off to a good start, offsetting weakness in the outsourcing sector. Banks are going well as trading updates loom. Lloyds Banking Group is getting ready for tomorrow's statement with a 2% jump, while Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC are also making up gr
Read moreLondon pre-open: Firm start to big week
1st Nov 2010 07:36
This week sees a slew of keenly anticipated economic data, both on this and the other side of the Atlantic, but traders seem keen to take a view, with the Footsie expected to break back above the 5700 barrier. The first week of November is a very busy one for UK corporate activity but, even so, act
Read moreXchanging on target; cash levels improve
1st Nov 2010 06:51
Business processing outsourcing specialist Xchanging is on course to meet full year targets despite some potential customers remaining apprehensive about the economic climate. The company's cost cutting programme is set to deliver the savings envisaged for 2010. Despite being in cost cutting mode t
Read moreXchanging to spruce up Gatwick's IT
28th Oct 2010 08:11
Outsourcing specialist Xchanging is to provide network management services to Gatwick airport. Xchanging will provide a comprehensive and flexible managed network service to meet the current and future needs of Gatwick Airport. The scope includes migrating Gatwick Airport's legacy n
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Mixed bag from retailers
14th Oct 2010 14:04
Retail-related stocks are mixed today after updates. Cash and carry group Booker is higher after it posted a sharp rise in interim profits and reported strong turnover so far in the second half. So is WH Smith. The newsagent and bookshop operator posted a strong rise in profits and upped its fina
Read moreXchanging in contract renewal
14th Oct 2010 07:45
Business process outsourcing firm Xchanging has had its contract with one of America's leading credit card companies renewed. The two year contract requires Xchanging to provide claims processing services, including claims administration, corporate billing and enrollment services as well as t
Read moreLondon close: Footsie gives up gains
17th Sep 2010 16:39
London's leading share index certainly made up for its early sluggishness on the last day of trading this week, but the day ended in disappointment as strong early gains evaporated. As is often the case, it was the US that was mostly responsible. Shares on Wall Street are broadly in the red followi
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