London afternoon: Prices bubble over
20th Aug 2009 14:14
Equity prices came off the top over the lunch-time session but remain firmly in the blue, albeit in thin trade, largely due to the strength of miners. Mining giant Rio Tinto is higher despite seeing profits falling by more than half in the six months to June 30 as it felt the impact of sharply lowe
Read moreLondon midday: Retail sales give a boost
20th Aug 2009 12:10
July's retail sales figures have given a lift to an already buoyant equity market. Figures revealed sales grew 0.4% from June, putting the annual increase to 3.3%, the highest since May 2008. Economists had predicted a rise of just 0.2% for July following June's 1.2% gain and a 2.7% year-on-year imp
Read moreLondon open: Decent gains posted
20th Aug 2009 08:23
Decent gains posted by Footsie after the open with the early pacesetters financials, especially banks, and miners. Mining giant Rio Tinto is higher despite seeing profits falling by more than half in the six months to June 30 as it felt the impact of sharply lower commodity prices amid tough econom
Read moreCarillion signs letter of intent with Openreach
20th Aug 2009 07:23
Support services group Carillion said its joint venture with technology services firm telent has signed a letter of intent with BT's Openreach for support services contract worth in the region of £1bn. The contract is expected to be agreed and signed within the next two months, during which time tr
Read moreLondon pre-open: Rally to continue
20th Aug 2009 07:03
London is set to continue the firmer trend seen late in the afternoon session yesterday with sentiment boosted by Wall Street's strength yesterday and strong gains overnight in Japan and Hong Kong. City sources predict the FTSE 100 will open 45 points up from the previous close of 4,690. Mining gi
Read moreLondon close: Stocks in late surge
18th Aug 2009 16:36
A late rally driven by early gains in the US had London back up at session highs, with gains among financial plays easily offsetting a weaker property sector. Investors overcame disappointing US housing starts data that had the blue chip index struggling at session lows mid-afternoon. The annual ra
Read moreLondon afternoon: Gains pegged after US housing data
18th Aug 2009 14:37
Disappointing US housing starts data took the wind out of London's sales over the lunchtime session, though the blue-chip FTSE 100 index remains in the blue. Housing starts are seen as one of the vital signs of the US economy and July's figures disappointed, with the annualised number of housing sta
Read moreLondon midday: Properties left behind in market rally
18th Aug 2009 12:00
Once again mining stocks are in the driving seat but today they are driving the market north, with many stocks recovering some of yesterday's heavy losses. Xstrata, ENRC, Kazakhmys and Lonmin are the picks of the mining sector, along with cash strapped Rio Tinto, which has received a $2.025bn offe
Read moreLondon open: Footsie fights back
18th Aug 2009 08:11
London's top stocks are winning back some of the heavy losses it posted yesterday, with miners among the main risers. Xstrata is the best blue chip performer in early dealings, closely followed by Rio Tinto, Randgold Resources and Kazakhmys. Cash strapped miner Rio Tinto has received a $2.025bn of
Read moreLondon pre-open: Footsie to recoup losses
18th Aug 2009 07:44
Footsie is expected to win back some of the heavy losses it posted yesterday. British Land saw the value of its property portfolio fall to £8.18bn in the first quarter but said the pace of decline has slowed markedly. The group, which has been the subject of intense bid speculation, said £3.2bn (39
Read moreCarillion JV bags Durham schools contract
18th Aug 2009 07:18
A joint venture including support services firm Carillion has won a 'Building Schools for the Future' contract for Durham. The Local Education Partnership (LEP), comprising Carilliom, Durham County Council and Building Schools for the Future Investments LLP, will deliver more than 40 schools in fou
Read moreMid-cap round-up:Glaxo/Vernalis, Fiberweb, Carillion...
6th Aug 2009 10:42
Drug developer Vernalis has signed an exclusive collaboration, option and license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline relating to a Vernalis research programme against an undisclosed oncology target. Under the terms of the deal, Vernalis will receive $6m upon signing (including a $3m equity subscriptio
Read moreCarillion's Oman business secures £275m contract
23rd Jul 2009 08:27
Support services group Carillion today confirmed its business in Oman has secured a £275m to build the Majlis, a new Parliament building in the centre of Muscat. The contract includes the construction of a new building to house the Majlis Oman, Majlis A'shura and Majlis A'ddowla, together with VIP
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Tullow Oil, Carillion, Cape
9th Jul 2009 06:05
The Independent reckons Tullow Oil is a risky bet, which is not helped by volatile oil prices, but said the company offers enough for a speculative punt. Buy. The Times says the longer-term issue of how Tullow will commercialise its Ugandan discoveries remains. Yet, at 863p, a busy drilling program
Read moreLondon close: Footsie dives as miners reverse course
8th Jul 2009 17:04
The decline of the Footsie gathered pace in the final hour as miners, which had provided some measure of support for the blue-chip index for most of the day, turned lower. As global equity markets continue to retreat life assurance stocks were the main losers. Aviva, Legal & General and Prudential
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