London open: Stocks rise but FTSE 100 on track for annual decline
31st Dec 2014 08:54
London's stock market rose on Wednesday after a sell-off the previous session, but still looked set to finish 2014 in the red. The FTSE 100 was up 0.2% at 6,559 on the last trading day of the year, but has fallen around 2.8% since the start of January. For the month of December alone, the Footsie h
Read moreBarratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey set to join Footsie
4th Dec 2014 08:53
Overnight FTSE announced the results of its quarterly review of the constituents for its UK index series. IMI and Petrofac are to leave the top flight index, with Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey set to take their place. Meanwhile, and on the FTSE 250, Barratt Developments, Taylor Wimpey,
Read moreBarratt Developments on track despite lower sales
12th Nov 2014 08:12
Housebuilder Barratt Developments said it remains on track to hit its full-year targets, though sales rates have fallen due to a more "stable" UK housing market. Barratt has seen 0.63 net private reservations per active site per week since the start of the financial year (1 July), down from 0.71 at
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Smiths Group drops after results miss forecasts
17th Sep 2014 14:32
Engineer Smiths Group was leading the fallers on the FTSE 100 on Wednesday after missing expectations with a 5% fall in annual revenues to £2.95bn on the back of foreign exchange headwinds and a small disposal. Analysts at Deutsche Bank had expected a figure closer to £3.05bn. Beverage groups SABMil
Read moreMarket overview: Fed speculation ramps up after CPI data
17th Sep 2014 09:41
1630:Close UK stocks ended the session slightly lower, failing to partake in the gains seen elsewhere, as investors maintained a wary attitude ahead of Thursday´s Scottish referendum. Rightly so given the enormous significance of the event for Britain. European markets on the other hand were buoyed
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Barratt Developments, Optimal Payments
11th Sep 2014 11:22
Return excess cash to shareholders or re-invest profitably into the business – if you can – that is the question. Housebuilder Barratt Developments is firmly in the former camp. The company announced that it had hit a couple of targets earlier than expected, with return-on-capital nearin
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Kingfisher leads risers after seeing improved demand for DIY products
10th Sep 2014 15:18
B&Q and Brico Depot owner Kingfisher saw shares jump after replacing its chief executive as it reported flat profits due to currency volatility, although it said the buoyant UK housing market had lifted demand for DIY products. Housebuilder Barratt Developments was higher after it pledged to return
Read moreLondon midday: FTSE erases losses as Kingfisher and Barratt gain
10th Sep 2014 11:50
London's FTSE 100 had erased earlier losses and was trading in positive territory by Wednesday lunchtime, helped by decent gains from Kingfisher, Barratt Developments and precious metal stocks. However, upside was being limited by falls from Sports Direct and a host of blue chips that went ex-divide
Read moreLondon open: Ex-div stocks, Sports Direct lead UK markets lower
10th Sep 2014 08:34
UK equity markets declined on Wednesday morning with ex-dividend stocks providing a drag, along with poorly-received trading updates from the likes of Sports Direct and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The FTSE 100 was trading down 0.4% at 6,803 within the opening hour. London stocks were also tracking
Read moreLondon pre-open: Blue chips to retreat ahead of BoE hearing
10th Sep 2014 07:42
London-listed stocks are expected to open lower at Wednesday's opening bell, tracking losses seen in both the US and Asia overnight. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open around 12 points lower than Tuesday's close of 6,829.00. Data published in Asia overnight revealed that China's money supp
Read moreBarratt Developments pledges £1bn cash return - UPDATE
10th Sep 2014 07:06
Along with an impressive set of final results, housebuilder Barratt Developments reported current trading had returned to more seasonal trends and pledged to return almost £1bn to shareholders over the next three years via special dividends. Results for the year to end-June, which were in-line with
Read moreLondon close: Referendum jitters weigh on stocks
9th Sep 2014 18:20
London shares ended Tuesday’s session in the red as jitters about the Scottish independence referendum offset more positive economic news. The FTSE 100 Index closed 5.77 points down at 6,829 as investors chewed over one poll giving Scottish separatists the lead and another with the ‘no&r
Read moreWednesday preview: MPs to grill Carney and Co
9th Sep 2014 15:12
On Wednesday, four members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will sit down before the Treasury Committee and answer questions on the Bank's inflation report, providing an opportunity for the market to glean more concrete guidance on monetary policy. As well as a stronger guida
Read moreWednesday preview: MPs to grill Carney and Co
9th Sep 2014 15:12
On Wednesday, four members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will sit down before the Treasury Committee and answer questions on the Bank's inflation report, providing an opportunity for the market to glean more concrete guidance on monetary policy. As well as a stronger guida
Read moreWednesday preview: MPs to grill Carney and Co
9th Sep 2014 15:12
On Wednesday, four members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will sit down before the Treasury Committee and answer questions on the Bank's inflation report, providing an opportunity for the market to glean more concrete guidance on monetary policy. As well as a stronger guida
Read more