London midday: Shares unchanged after Bank holds rates
7th Apr 2011 12:21
Shares are little changed after the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged at 0.5%. The decision was expected, while the ECB is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since they were slashed in the wake of the financial crisis. Turning to stocks, the retail sector has come back
Read moreLondon open: Nervous start ahead of rate decisions
7th Apr 2011 08:27
Shares are in nervous mode this morning ahead of rate decisions from the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank(ECB) later today. The BoE is expected to keep rates unchanged at a record low of 0.5%, but the ECB is expected to press ahead with its first rate rise since they were slashed
Read moreLondon pre-open: More woe for retailers
7th Apr 2011 07:36
The market looks set to crawl higher at the outset with City traders predicting the top share index will open six or seven points higher despite further evidence from results this morning of hard times on the high street. In the first quarter of 2011 international recruitment firm Hays saw like-for
Read moreCarpetright issues another profit warning
7th Apr 2011 07:29
Carpetright has become the latest British retailer to warn on profits. In its second profit warning this year, the flooring and carpet retailer says it now expects pre-tax profits for the year to 30 April to be in line with those achieved in its 2009 financial year, when trading was hit hard by the
Read moreSector movers: Mothercare pressures retailers lower
31st Mar 2011 14:50
Retailers are sharply lower Thursday, with blue chips Next and Kingfisher falling into the red. On the FTSE 250, Mothercare, Dixons, Carpetright, Sports Direct and Dunelm are providing a drag. Baby clothes retailer Mothercare has seen its share price drop by almost a tenth, after margins were sque
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Retailers head lower
31st Mar 2011 14:36
Retailers are providing a drag on the index today, with Mothercare, Dixons, Carpetright, Sports Direct and Dunelm losing 4% or more. Baby clothes retailer Mothercare has seen its share price drop by almost a tenth, after margins were squeezed in the quarter to 26 March. Also under the weather is r
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Amec, Carillion, Autonomy...
2nd Feb 2011 06:47
Exploration and production spending by oil companies is expected to increase significantly in 2011 - with analysts predicting investment could rise by as much as a fifth. This is an opportunity for Amec. Any M&A activity could be a catalyst for the shares to outperform. The shares are trading on a
Read moreLondon close: FTSE 100 soars as Egypt worries ease
1st Feb 2011 16:51
Well-received company updates, strong economic figures here and elsewhere and an easing of worries related to the situation in Egypt helped UK shares to strong gains. Miners led the advance, after strong growth in manufacturing in commodity hungry China in January. The UK, eurozone and US also had
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: Ocado shares jump
1st Feb 2011 15:44
Ocado shares are on the surge after the online grocer announced it made a profit in the fourth quarter as a record number of customers pushed sales to an all-time high. Egypt-based miner Centamin rises higher following a reassuring statement over the impact of the current unrest in the country: "Th
Read moreLondon afternoon: Miners and techs in demand
1st Feb 2011 14:15
Shares added to the morning's gains over the lunchtime session, buoyed by the prospect of a firm start on Wall Street. Miners lead the advance, after strong growth in Chinese manufacturing in January, though technology stocks are also in demand. Mining giant Xstrata produced more coking coal, sem
Read moreBroker tips: BP, Autonomy, Carpetright
1st Feb 2011 12:08
Charles Stanley has maintained its 'hold' recommendation on oil giant BP after the fourth quarter earnings outcome was 'below expectations' by as much as 10%. BP's earnings amounted to $20.5bn in 2010 ($14.6bn: 2009) while all charges relating to the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) oil spill amounted to $40.9
Read moreLondon midday: Shares add more gains
1st Feb 2011 12:07
Shares have moved higher following a decent start this morning, with upbeat company statements spurring buying interest. Strong growth in Chinese manufacturing and hopes of a peaceful resolution to the Egyptian crisis have also cheered investors. Here, the UK manufacturing purchasing managers' inde
Read moreBroker snap: Carpetright overvalued after profit warning
1st Feb 2011 10:20
Carpetright's disappointing trading update reinforced finnCap's view that, for some time, the group's valuation has been based on an outlook for revenues that was "simply too optimistic." The specialist carpet and floor coverings retailer announced on Monday that in the 13 weeks ended 29 January, U
Read moreLondon open: Good start for blue chips
1st Feb 2011 08:42
Overnight gains on Wall Street and a positive session in the Far East sent London's blue chip index past 5,900 in early trading. Concern over the situation in Egypt eased a little yesterday, though tensions still remain very high and the oil price spiked higher. Miner, Centamin Egypt said "Recent
Read moreCarpetright warns on FY profit
1st Feb 2011 07:48
Specialist carpet and floor coverings retailer Carpetright warned it now expects profits for the year to 30 April 2011 to be below the current range of market expectations as difficult trading conditions continue. Group sales declined by 6.4%, with the year on year effect of closing its operations
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