September 26, 2007

Northern Rock gains on bids rumors

Filed under: Companies, Northern Rock, Xstrata, DSG international, Aquarius Platinum, Alliance & Leicester, JKX Oil & Gas, Carphone Warehouse, HBOS, GAME Group, Moneysupermarket.com

London’s equities markets saw gains Wednesday as some banks were higher.

The FTSE 100 added 0.56 percent to 6,433 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.33 percent to 10,889.3.

Banks were higher on the 100, led by Northern Rock (LSE: NRK), which was up 11.59 percent to 182p after it said it had received some approaches to buy, as well an offer.

HBOS (LSE: HBOS) was 5.12 percent higher to 873p after Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) added it to its “conviction buy” list, while Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) gained 3.4 percent to 733p.

Internet price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com (LSE: MONY) was the best performer of the day on the 250 as it added 5.49 percent to 173p.

Miners were mixed.

Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) was 5.37 percent higher to £18.63 on the 250, but Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was down 1.44 percent on the 100 to £31.49.

DSG International (LSE: DSGI) had the worst day on the 100, where it dropped 3.71 percent to 129.9p after Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS; SWX: CSGN) cut the retailer’s target share price from 155p to 95p.

Elsewhere in the retail sector, Carphone Warehouse (LSE: CPW) was down 2.1 percent to 350.25p.

Over on the 250, computer software and video game retailer GAME Group (LSE: GAME) fell 6.93 percent to 188p.

The worst performance on the 250 came from the oil sector, where JKX Oil & Gas (LSE: JKX) was 7.02 percent lower to 344.5p.

July 27, 2007

Miners decline in London

Filed under: Companies, Northern Rock, Anglo American, Antofagasta, Reckitt Benckiser, Rolls Royce, Aquarius Platinum, Johnston Press, Emap, National Grid, Vedanta Resources, Compass Group, Rightmove, GAME Group

London’s markets were lower on the dayFriday, but not nearly as steeply as they were on Thursday.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.58 percent to 6,215.2, while the FTSE 250 was down 0.44 percent to 10.984.5.

Miners posted the worst performances on both the 100 and the 250 as Anglo American (LSE: AAL) dropped 3.86 percent to £27.43 on the 100 and Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP) fell 7.37 percent to £13.58.

Also in the sector, Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) was down 3.43 percent to 675p, while Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 3.68 percent lower to £16.22.

Online property search group Rightmove (LSE: RMV) also saw declines, dropping 6.09 percent to 547.5p, while human resources group STHREE (LSE: STHR) was 5.75 percent lower to 410.5p.

Caterer Compass Group (LSE: CPG) fell 2.81 percent to 311p.

Chemicals group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) had the best day on the 100 as it gained 3.19 percent to £26.84.

Publisher Emap (LSE: EMA) was the best performer on the 250, where it added 12.7 percent to 860.5p.

Another publishers, Johnston Press (LSE: JPR) was 4.69 percent higher to 385p.

Retailers also had gains on the 250.

GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) added 4.77 percent to 186.75p, while home shopping retailer Findel (LSE: FADV) gained 4.83 percent to 683.5p.

In the banking sector, Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) was up 3.12 percent to 793.5p.

Electric power transmitter National Grid (LSE: NG) and airplane engine maker Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR) each added 2.47 percent, to 704p and 508.5p respectively.

July 26, 2007

Insurers in focus in London

Filed under: Companies, Rolls Royce, Vodafone, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Resolution, GAME Group

The London equities markets fell significantly on Thursday.

The FTSE 100 was 3.15 percent lower on the session, to 6,251.2, while the FTSE 250 dropped 3.35 percent to 11,033.4.

Insurers were in focus, as companies in the sector provided both the best and worst performances on the 100.

On the winning side, Resolution (LSE: REL) added 2.84 percent to 633.5p, while Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) fell 8.24 percent to 138.1p.

The decline for Legal & General came after it reported that margins had fallen to 3.6 percent and that its non-life unit had lost £38 million on household claims due to flooding.

L&G also disappointed when it announced a share buyback program worth £1 billion, much less than had been anticipated by analysts.

Also in the insurance sector, Friends Provident was down 6.65 percent to 181.2p as UBS (NYSE: UBS; SWX: UBSN; TYO: 8657) cut its recommendation from “buy” to “neutral”.

Other sectors seeing declines on the 100 included hotels operators, as Intercontinental Hotels (LSE: IHG; NYSE: IHG) fell 7.34 percent to £11.11.

In the telecommunications sector, Vodafone (LSE: VOD; NYSE: VOD; FWB: VOD) dropped 7.23 percent to 145p.

Airplane engine manufacturer Rolls Royce (LSE: RR) fell 6.46 percent to 496.25p after it reported that profits in the first half were down by 51 percent, affected by the weakness of the US dollar.

The biggest loser on the 250 was retailer GAME group (LSE: EBQ), with a drop of 7.22 percent to 176.75p.

July 24, 2007

FTSE 100 falls nearly 2 percent

Filed under: Companies, Anglo American, IG Group, Reckitt Benckiser, Lonmin, British Energy, Next, Imperial Tobacco, Kingfisher, Old Mutual, Drax Group, Yell, GAME Group, Home Retail, Sports Direct

Equities markets in London saw big losses on Tuesday’s session.

The FTSE 100 fell 1.9 percent to 6,498.7, while the FTSE 250 dropped 1.68 percent to 11,584.

Retailers were lower after sporting good retailer Sports Direct (LSE: SPD) dropped 22.63 percent to 147p after it issued its second profits warning since it’s IPO in February, prompting negative broker comment.

Other retailers seeing declines included GAME Group (LSE: EBQ), which fell 6.86 percent to 193.5p.

Home Retail (LSE: HOME) was 3.28 percent lower to 427.25p, while clothing retailer Next (LSE: NXT) was down 2.66 percent to £18.67 and DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) dropped 2.25 percent to 217.5p.

Electric power generators were lower as well.

British Energy (LSE: BGY) had the worst day on the 100 as it fell 4.5 percent to 509p, while Drax Group (LSE: DRX) was 3.84 percent lower to 700.5p.

Miners were also lower, with Anglo American (LSE: AAL) down 3.81 percent to £31.33 and Lonmin (LSE: LMI) dropping 3.88 percent to £35.90.

Insurer Old Mutual was 3.93 percent lower to 168.7p after talk that South African bank Nedbank (JSE: NED), in which Old Mutual owns a majority stake, might be the target of a takeover.

There were gainers on the day.

Spread betting specialist IG Group Holdings (LSE: IGG) added 9.21 percent to 341p for the best performance of the day on the 250, while consumer products group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) had the best day on the 100 with a gain of 1.14 percent to £27.48 ahead of its quarterly report.

Other gainers included phone book publisher Yell Group (LSE: YELL), which added 0.69 percent to 472.5p on positive fiscal first quarter results.

Imperial Tobacco (LSE: IMT) gained 0.78 percent to £23.13.

July 23, 2007

Friends Provident adds 7.83 percent on merger talks

Filed under: Companies, British Land, Barclay's, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Persimmon, Liberty International, Shaftesbury, FKI, GAME Group, SEGRO, Beazley Group, Workspace Group

The markets were mixed in London on Monday, with the FTSE 100 adding 0.6 percent to 6,624.4 but the FTSE 250 falling 0.38 percent to 11,775.

Insurer Friends Provident (LSE: FP) was the best performer on the 100 as it added 7.83 percent to 201p after it announced that it is in merger talks with Resolution (LSE: RSL).

Elsewhere in the insurance sector, Legal and General (LSE: LGEN) was 2.71 percent higher to 155.3p.

Barclay’s Bank (LSE: BARC; NYSE: BCS; TYO: 8642) gained 3.01 percent to 735p on the news that China will by a stake in the bank so that it can increase its bid for ABN Amro (Euronext: AAB; NYSE: ABN).

The insurance sector grabbed the top spot on the 250 on the session as well, with special risk insurer Beazley Group (LSE: BEZ) up 5.95 percent to 169.25p.

Retailer GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) also saw gains, adding 3.4 percent to 205.25p.

The property investment sector had a rough day.

Liberty International (LSE: LII) fell 1.7 percent to £11, while SEGRO (LSE: SLOU) - formerly Slough Estates - also dropped 1.7 percent, to 578p.

British Land (LSE: BLND) was the worst performer on the 100, falling 3.1 percent to £13.14.

Meanwhile, house builder Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was 1.69 percent lower to £11.64.

Lifting equipment manufacturer FKI (LSE: FKI) had the worst day on the 250 as it dropped 8.27 percent to 113.75p.

Property investment groups did no better on the 250 than they did on the 100, as Shaftesbury (LSE: SHB) was 3.99 percent lower to 577p and Workspace Group (LSE: WKP) fell 5.23 percent to 362.5p.

July 5, 2007

Telecommunications sector declines

Filed under: Companies, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Vodafone, BT Group, Wolseley, GAME Group, Michael Page International

In London on Thursday the FTSE 100 was 0.57 percent lower to 6,635.2, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.27 percent to 11,802.8.

The declines came after the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise interest rates to 5.75 percent.

Miners were helped by continuing merger rumors and by metals prices which remained strong.

Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 1.45 percent higher to £40.01, while BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; ASX: BHP; NYSE: BHP) gained 1.74 percent to £14.62.

Xstrata (LSE: XTA) had the best day on the 100, adding 1.96 percent to £31.70.

Computer software and video games retailer GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) was the best performer on the 250, gaining 7.14 percent to 195p, while employment recruiter Michael Page International (LSE: MPI) was 6.34 percent higher to 595p.

The telecommunications sector took losses on the 100 after it was reported that Vodafone (LSE: VOD; NYSE: VOD; FWB: VOD) had not won an exclusive contract to partner with Apple (NAS: AAPL; LSE: ACP; FWB: APC) on its iPhone in the UK.

Vodafone dropped 2.41 percent to 162.1p, while BT Group (LSE: BT.A; NSYE: BT) was 2.38 percent lower to 328.75p.

Construction materials group Wolseley (LSE: WOS)had the worst day on the 100 as it dropped 2.63 percent to £11.83.


FTSE market news from the London Stock Exchange: FTSE 100, FTSE 250, and FTSE 400
Latest FTSE News: Miners gain, house builders see declines Oil, miners higher in London Telecoms, retailers see gains Pharma lower in London British Energy drops on nuclear plant delays Home builders see gains in London House builders, property developers down in London Brewers higher on bids rumors Oil sector, banks mixed in London BP, Royal Dutch Shell gain on higher oil prices Recommended equities news sites Eurofirst News Tokyo Market News NYSE News Insurance: Car & Home FTSE London Stock Exchange	September 26, 2007 Northern Rock gains on bids rumors Filed under: Companies, Northern Rock, Xstrata, DSG international, Aquarius Platinum, Alliance & Leicester, JKX Oil & Gas, Carphone Warehouse, HBOS, GAME Group, Moneysupermarket.com London’s equities markets saw gains Wednesday as some banks were higher. The FTSE 100 added 0.56 percent to 6,433 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.33 percent to 10,889.3. Banks were higher on the 100, led by Northern Rock (LSE: NRK), which was up 11.59 percent to 182p after it said it had received some approaches to buy, as well an offer. HBOS (LSE: HBOS) was 5.12 percent higher to 873p after Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) added it to its “conviction buy” list, while Alliance & Leicester (LSE: AL) gained 3.4 percent to 733p. Internet price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com (LSE: MONY) was the best performer of the day on the 250 as it added 5.49 percent to 173p. Miners were mixed. Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) was 5.37 percent higher to £18.63 on the 250, but Xstrata (LSE: XTA) was down 1.44 percent on the 100 to £31.49. DSG International (LSE: DSGI) had the worst day on the 100, where it dropped 3.71 percent to 129.9p after Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS; SWX: CSGN) cut the retailer’s target share price from 155p to 95p. Elsewhere in the retail sector, Carphone Warehouse (LSE: CPW) was down 2.1 percent to 350.25p. Over on the 250, computer software and video game retailer GAME Group (LSE: GAME) fell 6.93 percent to 188p. The worst performance on the 250 came from the oil sector, where JKX Oil & Gas (LSE: JKX) was 7.02 percent lower to 344.5p. July 27, 2007 Miners decline in London Filed under: Companies, Northern Rock, Anglo American, Antofagasta, Reckitt Benckiser, Rolls Royce, Aquarius Platinum, Johnston Press, Emap, National Grid, Vedanta Resources, Compass Group, Rightmove, GAME Group London’s markets were lower on the dayFriday, but not nearly as steeply as they were on Thursday. The FTSE 100 fell 0.58 percent to 6,215.2, while the FTSE 250 was down 0.44 percent to 10.984.5. Miners posted the worst performances on both the 100 and the 250 as Anglo American (LSE: AAL) dropped 3.86 percent to £27.43 on the 100 and Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP) fell 7.37 percent to £13.58. Also in the sector, Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) was down 3.43 percent to 675p, while Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 3.68 percent lower to £16.22. Online property search group Rightmove (LSE: RMV) also saw declines, dropping 6.09 percent to 547.5p, while human resources group STHREE (LSE: STHR) was 5.75 percent lower to 410.5p. Caterer Compass Group (LSE: CPG) fell 2.81 percent to 311p. Chemicals group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) had the best day on the 100 as it gained 3.19 percent to £26.84. Publisher Emap (LSE: EMA) was the best performer on the 250, where it added 12.7 percent to 860.5p. Another publishers, Johnston Press (LSE: JPR) was 4.69 percent higher to 385p. Retailers also had gains on the 250. GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) added 4.77 percent to 186.75p, while home shopping retailer Findel (LSE: FADV) gained 4.83 percent to 683.5p. In the banking sector, Northern Rock (LSE: NRK) was up 3.12 percent to 793.5p. Electric power transmitter National Grid (LSE: NG) and airplane engine maker Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR) each added 2.47 percent, to 704p and 508.5p respectively. July 26, 2007 Insurers in focus in London Filed under: Companies, Rolls Royce, Vodafone, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Resolution, GAME Group The London equities markets fell significantly on Thursday. The FTSE 100 was 3.15 percent lower on the session, to 6,251.2, while the FTSE 250 dropped 3.35 percent to 11,033.4. Insurers were in focus, as companies in the sector provided both the best and worst performances on the 100. On the winning side, Resolution (LSE: REL) added 2.84 percent to 633.5p, while Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) fell 8.24 percent to 138.1p. The decline for Legal & General came after it reported that margins had fallen to 3.6 percent and that its non-life unit had lost £38 million on household claims due to flooding. L&G also disappointed when it announced a share buyback program worth £1 billion, much less than had been anticipated by analysts. Also in the insurance sector, Friends Provident was down 6.65 percent to 181.2p as UBS (NYSE: UBS; SWX: UBSN; TYO: 8657) cut its recommendation from “buy” to “neutral”. Other sectors seeing declines on the 100 included hotels operators, as Intercontinental Hotels (LSE: IHG; NYSE: IHG) fell 7.34 percent to £11.11. In the telecommunications sector, Vodafone (LSE: VOD; NYSE: VOD; FWB: VOD) dropped 7.23 percent to 145p. Airplane engine manufacturer Rolls Royce (LSE: RR) fell 6.46 percent to 496.25p after it reported that profits in the first half were down by 51 percent, affected by the weakness of the US dollar. The biggest loser on the 250 was retailer GAME group (LSE: EBQ), with a drop of 7.22 percent to 176.75p. July 24, 2007 FTSE 100 falls nearly 2 percent Filed under: Companies, Anglo American, IG Group, Reckitt Benckiser, Lonmin, British Energy, Next, Imperial Tobacco, Kingfisher, Old Mutual, Drax Group, Yell, GAME Group, Home Retail, Sports Direct Equities markets in London saw big losses on Tuesday’s session. The FTSE 100 fell 1.9 percent to 6,498.7, while the FTSE 250 dropped 1.68 percent to 11,584. Retailers were lower after sporting good retailer Sports Direct (LSE: SPD) dropped 22.63 percent to 147p after it issued its second profits warning since it’s IPO in February, prompting negative broker comment. Other retailers seeing declines included GAME Group (LSE: EBQ), which fell 6.86 percent to 193.5p. Home Retail (LSE: HOME) was 3.28 percent lower to 427.25p, while clothing retailer Next (LSE: NXT) was down 2.66 percent to £18.67 and DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) dropped 2.25 percent to 217.5p. Electric power generators were lower as well. British Energy (LSE: BGY) had the worst day on the 100 as it fell 4.5 percent to 509p, while Drax Group (LSE: DRX) was 3.84 percent lower to 700.5p. Miners were also lower, with Anglo American (LSE: AAL) down 3.81 percent to £31.33 and Lonmin (LSE: LMI) dropping 3.88 percent to £35.90. Insurer Old Mutual was 3.93 percent lower to 168.7p after talk that South African bank Nedbank (JSE: NED), in which Old Mutual owns a majority stake, might be the target of a takeover. There were gainers on the day. Spread betting specialist IG Group Holdings (LSE: IGG) added 9.21 percent to 341p for the best performance of the day on the 250, while consumer products group Reckitt Benckiser (LSE: RB) had the best day on the 100 with a gain of 1.14 percent to £27.48 ahead of its quarterly report. Other gainers included phone book publisher Yell Group (LSE: YELL), which added 0.69 percent to 472.5p on positive fiscal first quarter results. Imperial Tobacco (LSE: IMT) gained 0.78 percent to £23.13. July 23, 2007 Friends Provident adds 7.83 percent on merger talks Filed under: Companies, British Land, Barclay's, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Persimmon, Liberty International, Shaftesbury, FKI, GAME Group, SEGRO, Beazley Group, Workspace Group The markets were mixed in London on Monday, with the FTSE 100 adding 0.6 percent to 6,624.4 but the FTSE 250 falling 0.38 percent to 11,775. Insurer Friends Provident (LSE: FP) was the best performer on the 100 as it added 7.83 percent to 201p after it announced that it is in merger talks with Resolution (LSE: RSL). Elsewhere in the insurance sector, Legal and General (LSE: LGEN) was 2.71 percent higher to 155.3p. Barclay’s Bank (LSE: BARC; NYSE: BCS; TYO: 8642) gained 3.01 percent to 735p on the news that China will by a stake in the bank so that it can increase its bid for ABN Amro (Euronext: AAB; NYSE: ABN). The insurance sector grabbed the top spot on the 250 on the session as well, with special risk insurer Beazley Group (LSE: BEZ) up 5.95 percent to 169.25p. Retailer GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) also saw gains, adding 3.4 percent to 205.25p. The property investment sector had a rough day. Liberty International (LSE: LII) fell 1.7 percent to £11, while SEGRO (LSE: SLOU) - formerly Slough Estates - also dropped 1.7 percent, to 578p. British Land (LSE: BLND) was the worst performer on the 100, falling 3.1 percent to £13.14. Meanwhile, house builder Persimmon (LSE: PSN) was 1.69 percent lower to £11.64. Lifting equipment manufacturer FKI (LSE: FKI) had the worst day on the 250 as it dropped 8.27 percent to 113.75p. Property investment groups did no better on the 250 than they did on the 100, as Shaftesbury (LSE: SHB) was 3.99 percent lower to 577p and Workspace Group (LSE: WKP) fell 5.23 percent to 362.5p. July 5, 2007 Telecommunications sector declines Filed under: Companies, Xstrata, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Vodafone, BT Group, Wolseley, GAME Group, Michael Page International In London on Thursday the FTSE 100 was 0.57 percent lower to 6,635.2, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.27 percent to 11,802.8. The declines came after the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to raise interest rates to 5.75 percent. Miners were helped by continuing merger rumors and by metals prices which remained strong. Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) was 1.45 percent higher to £40.01, while BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; ASX: BHP; NYSE: BHP) gained 1.74 percent to £14.62. Xstrata (LSE: XTA) had the best day on the 100, adding 1.96 percent to £31.70. Computer software and video games retailer GAME Group (LSE: EBQ) was the best performer on the 250, gaining 7.14 percent to 195p, while employment recruiter Michael Page International (LSE: MPI) was 6.34 percent higher to 595p. The telecommunications sector took losses on the 100 after it was reported that Vodafone (LSE: VOD; NYSE: VOD; FWB: VOD) had not won an exclusive contract to partner with Apple (NAS: AAPL; LSE: ACP; FWB: APC) on its iPhone in the UK. Vodafone dropped 2.41 percent to 162.1p, while BT Group (LSE: BT.A; NSYE: BT) was 2.38 percent lower to 328.75p. Construction materials group Wolseley (LSE: WOS)had the worst day on the 100 as it dropped 2.63 percent to £11.83.	Latest Equities News: Wall Street ends lower despite rate cut Asia-Pacific, Europe equities see declines Hang Seng adds 10.72 percent on session India’s Sensex drops 1,408 points on session Australian markets drop for 9th straight day Taiex gains on opposition win in parliamentary elections Hang Seng drops nearly 400 points Most Asia-Pacific markets drop on US recession worries Tokyo declines on export worries Asia-Pacific equities mixed on economic concerns
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