Sector movers: Next props up the retailers
4th May 2011 14:22
Retailers are in demand on the back of some sentiment-lifting first quarter results from Next. Fashion retailer Next saw shares leap after a strong first quarter, which saw sales increase more than expected. Total sales for the period excluding VAT were up by 5.2% from the same period the previous
Read moreTechMARK movers: Ark valued at discount to NAV
9th Mar 2011 14:59
Drug developer Ark Therapeutics has fallen after announcing a £10.7m cash outflow from operations in 2010. Net cash has fallen to £7.07m, from £14.1m in June, which is £1m less than the market value of Ark. The cash does not include the money received for the sale of Ark's wound care business, whi
Read moreLondon close: Shares soar on Libya deal hopes
3rd Mar 2011 16:39
Reports that the Libyan situation might be resolved through mediation rather than violence sent UK shares sharply higher. The Arab League is said to be considering a proposal to end the fighting in Libya sending oil prices higher. Heavy oil users such as airline International Consolidated Airlines
Read moreLondon afternoon: Footsie cruises towards 6,000
3rd Mar 2011 14:13
Footsie has 6,000 within its sights once more as stocks bounce back strongly on hopes that the Libyan situation might be resolved. Reports that the Arab League is considering a proposal to end the fighting in Libya have boosted sentiment, and has sent the price of oil into reverse. Heavy oil users
Read moreSpirent delivers 32% profit hike
3rd Mar 2011 07:19
Telecoms testing group Spirent reported a 32% rise in 2010 pre-tax profit, increased its dividend and said it is confident of further growth in 2011. The company, which tests the performance of IT and communications systems, said pre-tax profit for the year rose to $112.2m compare with $84.9m in 2
Read moreSector movers: HSBC drags banks lower
28th Feb 2011 14:33
The banking sector is lower on the day HSBC released its 2010 full-year results. Shares in the global banking giant are 6% down Monday afternoon following its decision to cut its return on equity target after analysing the likely effects of new banking regulations. Pre-tax profits increased by 169
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: British Land, Premier Foods, Micro Focus...
16th Feb 2011 06:38
More good news from British Land, with third-quarter results that had analysts gushing. The property company showed underlying portfolio growth of 2.3% (to £9.3bn) in the third quarter, comfortably ahead of the 1.2% and the 1.4% in the first and second quarters respectively. The shares are trading
Read moreSpirent buys US ally for $15m
15th Feb 2011 08:10
Telecoms testing group Spirent is to buy US firm Fanfare for $15m cash. Fanfare's business is similar to Spirent's. It also provides test automation solutions to equipment makers. "Bringing Fanfare's software expertise and its innovative iTest technology to Spirent will enable us to realise that v
Read moreLondon close: Two-year high for blue chips
4th Nov 2010 17:01
Footsie hit a two-year high as investors piled into blue chips after yesterday's larger-than-expected stimulus package unveiled by the US Federal Reserve. But the good sentiment was not universal, with some hefty fallers on the back of disappointing trading updates. Hopes that the Bank of England's
Read moreFTSE 250 movers: T&L sweetens but Wetherspoon goes flat
4th Nov 2010 14:29
Shares in Tate & Lyle sweetened after the food ingredients company more than doubled profits on sales that were boosted by higher corn prices. Shares in telecom equipment tester Spirent moved up towards a 12-month high as it reported trading since July has exceeded its expectations. JD Wetherspoon
Read moreLondon afternoon: Morning's gains consolidated
4th Nov 2010 14:23
Since the Bank of England's noon announcement extinguished the small hopes of Britain joining the US in reviving its quantitative easing programme, leading shares have marked time. Miners are still doing particularly well on hopes that the Fed's stimulus measures will help sustain the global econo
Read moreOrders flood into Spirent
4th Nov 2010 13:59
Shares in telecom equipment tester Spirent moved up towards a 12-month high as it reported trading since July has exceeded its expectations. Order intake is up 27% year-on-year for the first nine months of 2010. Revenue has increased by 13% and operating profit has grown by 35% year-on-year. In
Read moreTechMARK movers: Dividend worries for C&W Communications
4th Nov 2010 12:17
Concerns about its dividend have knocked the share price of Cable & Wireless Communications. Pre-tax profits fell to $204m from $223m in the six months to September 2010 even as revenues rose to $1.16m from $1.13m. An interim dividend of 2.67 cents was announced and the company reaffirmed that it
Read moreTechMARK movers: BT downgrade
16th Sep 2010 13:19
Technology shares are some of the worst performers in the market today and TechMark has fallen more than some of the broader indices. Morgan Stanley has downgraded BT from overweight to equalweight. A new five-year IT services contract with Debenhams was not enough to stop the share price retreati
Read moreTechMARK movers: Vectura deal
6th Aug 2010 14:20
GlaxoSmithKline has signed a worldwide non-exclusive deal with Vectura worth £20m in up front and milestone payments. GSK wants to use some of Vectura's dry powder drug formulation patents in its own respiratory products. The initial payment of £10m is due in September. There are also potential an
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