FTSE 250 movers: Beazley on top
8th Feb 2011 16:12
Topping the risers lift is specialist insurer and reinsurer Beazley after pumping up profit by 59% in 2010. Also on the rise is Finnish miner Talvivaara after it signed an agreement with uranium producer Cameco Corporation for the off-take of uranium obtained as a by-product at Talvivaara's mine a
Read moreLondon afternoon: Inmarsat takes flight
8th Feb 2011 14:40
Though miners remain a drag on the index following the Chinese interest rate hike, Footsie struggled back into positive territory over the lunch time session. China raised its key interest rates for the third time since October, with the benchmark one year lending rate hiked by a quarter of a point
Read moreLondon midday: China rate rise hits miners
8th Feb 2011 12:10
Shares are slightly under pressure after China's interest rate rise, but stocks move in both directions after updates. China has raised interest rates for the second time in just over a month as the fast-growing east Asian economy continues battling inflation. Mining giant Xstrata is in the red no
Read moreLondon open: Slow start for Footsie
8th Feb 2011 08:56
As expected, London has made a slow start, with the leading index giving back a handful of points after closing at its highest in almost three weeks last night. In company news, BG Group grew fourth quarter profits by 3% thanks to higher energy prices and a lower exploration charge. Operating profi
Read moreBeazley profits rocket
8th Feb 2011 07:45
Specialist insurer and reinsurer Beazley pumped up profit by 59% in 2010 and is in the mood for acquisitions. Profit before tax swelled to $250.8m from $158.1m in 2009, though this year's number was boosted by a one-off foreign exchange gain of $33.7m. Its combined ratio improved by two percentage
Read moreLondon close: Highest finish for FTSE 100 since 2008
14th Dec 2010 16:38
London's leading share index finished at its highest closing level in more than two years as buoyancy in the US helped shake Footsie out of its early sluggishness. Better than expected retail sales in the world's biggest economy in November heartened traders. Here, it was company updates that sen
Read moreLondon afternoon: Shares clinging on after US open
14th Dec 2010 15:26
Shares have crept higher after a decent start on Wall Street, but the gains are modest amid a mixed reception for company updates. Whitbread, the company behind Costa Coffee and the Premier Inn hotel chain, posted another strong set of numbers though there were a few signs of weakness and the share
Read moreLondon midday: Shares little changed
14th Dec 2010 12:01
Company updates have given investors plenty to mull over today, but shares are little changed overall. Whitbread, the company behind Costa Coffee and the Premier Inn hotel chain, posted another strong set of numbers though there were a few signs of weakness and the shares have fallen. Another boo
Read moreLondon open: Flat start for blue chips
14th Dec 2010 08:50
A dull start for Footsie was predicted and that's how it has turned out with the weak ending on Wall Street keeping buyers quiet. The Dow Jones had been trading near two-year highs when London closed, but ended with a lead of just 18 points. In UK company news, Go-Ahead, the company that operates
Read moreLondon pre-open: Static start seen
14th Dec 2010 07:38
Not much change is anticipated in early deals as a lack of blue chip news and a mixed finish on Wall Street keep things light at the start of play. The Dow Jones had been trading near two-year highs when London closed, but ended with a lead of just 18 points. In UK company news, Go-Ahead, the com
Read moreBeazley withdraws 350p Hardy offer
14th Dec 2010 07:13
Underwriter Beazley has dropped its bid for rival Hardy after a third offer was turned down flat. Beazley says it submitted a final proposal to the board of Hardy on Monday outlining a possible offer of up to 350p per share with some conditions. "Hardy's advisers confirmed that the Hardy board wou
Read moreLondon close: Footsie recovers as M&A action heats up
15th Nov 2010 16:37
The top share index snapped out of a weak start to finish in positive territory Monday as jitters over the Irish debt situation eased and bid speculation and company updates attracted attention. Shares in Invensys moved higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received
Read moreLondon afternoon: Bid activity keeps the pot bubbling
15th Nov 2010 14:07
A sprinkling of bid speculation is livening up markets this Monday, as traders wait for the Irish sovereign debt situation to play itself out. Shares in Invensys are higher despite the engineering firm denying press reports that it has received an approach. The company's chief executive Ulf Henrik
Read moreLondon midday: Footsie back in the blue
15th Nov 2010 12:07
Footsie is in positive territory now after an impressive rally that has been mostly powered by miners, though there's takeover talk in the oil sector. Premier Oil is doing its bit for the mid-cap index, racing to a new all-time high on talk that state-controlled KNOC, the Koreans who recently paid
Read moreLondon open: Miners pull index lower
15th Nov 2010 08:43
Blue chips have opened lower despite some trading updates today, with miners the main drag on sentiment. BHP Billiton's decision to end its battle to buy Canada's Potash Corp for around $40bn and sweeten shareholders with a $4.2bn share buyback instead has not helped its share price. Earlier this
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