May 17, 2011
European equities markets were lower Tuesday on a third consecutive monthly drop in German investor confidence, higher inflation in the UK, disappointing corporate results, and an unexpected decline in new housing starts in the United States. The Commerce Department reported that housing starts in the US were down 10.6 percent in April against an expected increase, while UK inflation was at 4.5 percent in April after being at 4 percent in ...
Essar Energy adds 3 percent in mostly lower London energy sector
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were lower Tuesday on a third consecutive monthly drop in German investor confidence, higher inflation in the UK, disappointing corporate results, and an unexpected decline in new housing starts in the United States. The Commerce Department reported that housing starts in the US were down 10.6 percent in April against an expected increase, while UK inflation was at 4.5 percent in April after being at 4 percent in ...
May 16, 2011
European equities markets were lower Monday as Greece prepares to request another bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, with talks surrounding the request made more complicated by the arrest in New York of the managing director of the IMF on charges of sexual assault. The FTSE 100 was 0.04 percent lower to 5,923.69 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.46 percent to 11,943.5. Miners were mostly higher, ...
Antofagasta leads miners higher in London
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were lower Monday as Greece prepares to request another bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, with talks surrounding the request made more complicated by the arrest in New York of the managing director of the IMF on charges of sexual assault. The FTSE 100 was 0.04 percent lower to 5,923.69 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.46 percent to 11,943.5. Miners were mostly higher, ...
May 12, 2011
European equities markets were lower Thursday after commodities prices fell significantly on Wednesday and on new data from the European Union that Eurozone industrial production declined unexpectedly in March. The FTSE 100 was down 0.52 percent to 5,944.96 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.42 percent to 11,967.1. Miners and the energy sector declined on the drop in prices for oil and metals, with the energy sector also hurt after the ...
Hunting plc leads energy sector lower
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were lower Thursday after commodities prices fell significantly on Wednesday and on new data from the European Union that Eurozone industrial production declined unexpectedly in March. The FTSE 100 was down 0.52 percent to 5,944.96 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.42 percent to 11,967.1. Miners and the energy sector declined on the drop in prices for oil and metals, with the energy sector also hurt after the ...
May 11, 2011
European equities markets were mixed Wednesday, with markets in London and Frankfurt seeing declines while Paris and Madrid markets made gains. The FTSE 100 was down 0.71 percent to 5,976 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.31 percent to 12,017.9 after the Bank of England said that inflation could reach 5 percent later in the year, and the outlook for growth in the UK economy was not optimistic. Most sectors were ...
Sports Direct International leads London retailers higher
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were mixed Wednesday, with markets in London and Frankfurt seeing declines while Paris and Madrid markets made gains. The FTSE 100 was down 0.71 percent to 5,976 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.31 percent to 12,017.9 after the Bank of England said that inflation could reach 5 percent later in the year, and the outlook for growth in the UK economy was not optimistic. Most sectors were ...
May 10, 2011
European markets were higher Tuesday as earnings reports turned positive. The FTSE 100 was up 1.28 percent to 1,149.39 in London, with only for decliners on the session, while the FTSE 250 added 1.34 percent to 12,055.2, although its biggest decliner dropped nearly 40 percent. Pace plc (LSE: PIC) which makes pay-tv set-top boxes and software for pay-tv, satellite, and broadband services, was down 39.18 percent on a profit warning after supplies ...
Pace plc drops 40 percent on profits warning
by Elaine FreiEuropean markets were higher Tuesday as earnings reports turned positive. The FTSE 100 was up 1.28 percent to 1,149.39 in London, with only for decliners on the session, while the FTSE 250 added 1.34 percent to 12,055.2, although its biggest decliner dropped nearly 40 percent. Pace plc (LSE: PIC) which makes pay-tv set-top boxes and software for pay-tv, satellite, and broadband services, was down 39.18 percent on a profit warning after supplies ...
May 9, 2011
European equities markets were lower Monday as banks declined after Standard & Poor’s cut Greece’s credit rating, renewing concerns about debt problems in parts of the region. S&P cut Greece’s credit rating from B to BB minus, and said it could make further cuts. The FTSE 100 was down 0.57 percent to 5,942.69 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.09 percent to 11,896.1. Banks were lower in London, with Royal Bank of ...
Royal Bank of Scotland leads London banks lower
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were lower Monday as banks declined after Standard & Poor’s cut Greece’s credit rating, renewing concerns about debt problems in parts of the region. S&P cut Greece’s credit rating from B to BB minus, and said it could make further cuts. The FTSE 100 was down 0.57 percent to 5,942.69 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.09 percent to 11,896.1. Banks were lower in London, with Royal Bank of ...
May 6, 2011
Most European equities markets made gains Friday after the US Labor Department reported that the economy there added more jobs than expected last month, with 244,000 non-farm jobs added against an expected gain of 185,000 jobs, although the US unemployment rate also gained for the first time in five months from 8.8 percent in March to 9 percent in April as more people started looking for work. The FTSE 100 was ...
Royal Bank of Scotland leads banks, FTSE 100 higher in London
by Elaine FreiMost European equities markets made gains Friday after the US Labor Department reported that the economy there added more jobs than expected last month, with 244,000 non-farm jobs added against an expected gain of 185,000 jobs, although the US unemployment rate also gained for the first time in five months from 8.8 percent in March to 9 percent in April as more people started looking for work. The FTSE 100 was ...
May 5, 2011
European equities markets were mostly lower Thursday after quarterly reports in the banking sector disappointed. The FTSE 100 was down 1.07 percent to 5,919.98 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.53 percent to 11,845.7 as the Bank of England kept UK interest rates steady at 0.5 percent, just as expected. Lloyd’s Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) led declines in London’s banking sector, dropping 8 percent on a loss in the first quarter ...
Lloyds Banking Group drops 8 percent on first-quarter loss
by Elaine FreiEuropean equities markets were mostly lower Thursday after quarterly reports in the banking sector disappointed. The FTSE 100 was down 1.07 percent to 5,919.98 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.53 percent to 11,845.7 as the Bank of England kept UK interest rates steady at 0.5 percent, just as expected. Lloyd’s Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) led declines in London’s banking sector, dropping 8 percent on a loss in the first quarter ...
Lloyds shares down on PPI claims
by Brian TurnerShares in Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) are currently down over 8% in morning trading on the FTSE after announcing losses of £2.4 billion for the quarter. This was primarily driven by the bank setting aside £3.2 billion to cover PPI miselling claims. It also had to set aside an extra £500 million on losses directly connected with Irish mortgage defaults. However, with one-off losses aside, Lloyds made a pre-tax profit of £284 ...
May 4, 2011
Equities markets in Europe were lower Wednesday as corporate results for the first quarter continued to disappoint, and on new data from the United States that showed its services sector expanded at its slowest in eight months as the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index came in at 52.8 in April from 57.3 in March. The FTSE 100 was down 1.62 percent to 5,984.07 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped ...
Aquarius Platinum adds 7 percent amid mostly lower mining sector
by Elaine FreiEquities markets in Europe were lower Wednesday as corporate results for the first quarter continued to disappoint, and on new data from the United States that showed its services sector expanded at its slowest in eight months as the Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index came in at 52.8 in April from 57.3 in March. The FTSE 100 was down 1.62 percent to 5,984.07 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped ...
May 3, 2011
Most equities markets in Europe were lower Tuesday, but London’s markets saw gains as they returned to work after a four-day weekend to celebrate the royal wedding and a bank holiday. The FTSE 100 added 0.21 percent to 6,082.88 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.01 percent to 12,014.8. Most miners saw declines after copper prices fell on reports that manufacturing growth slowed in the United States and China last ...
Randgold Resources leads miners lower in London
by Elaine FreiMost equities markets in Europe were lower Tuesday, but London’s markets saw gains as they returned to work after a four-day weekend to celebrate the royal wedding and a bank holiday. The FTSE 100 added 0.21 percent to 6,082.88 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.01 percent to 12,014.8. Most miners saw declines after copper prices fell on reports that manufacturing growth slowed in the United States and China last ...
May 2, 2011
European markets were mostly higher Monday on the news that a US military operation had found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, although analysts said that the positive effect of bin Laden’s death will not last long amid serious continuing concerns about global economic conditions. Also helping markets higher was a report on Eurozone manufacturing, with an index of factory activity up to 58 in April from 57.5 in March, ...
Commerzbank leads gains on Frankfurt’s Dax
by Elaine FreiEuropean markets were mostly higher Monday on the news that a US military operation had found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, although analysts said that the positive effect of bin Laden’s death will not last long amid serious continuing concerns about global economic conditions. Also helping markets higher was a report on Eurozone manufacturing, with an index of factory activity up to 58 in April from 57.5 in March, ...