May 5, 2011

Lloyds shares down on PPI claims

by Brian Turner
Shares 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 ...

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January 19, 2011

Banks lower as FTSE loses 1.32%

by Brian Turner
Despite general gains throughout the day, the FTSE 100 was down 1.32% (79.73 points) by the end of trading as the markets saw profit selling and taking after gains over recent months. Banks tended to especially lose out after performing well over recent weeks, with Barclays down 3.32%, Lloyds down 2.36%, RBS down 1.28%, and HSBC down 0.73%. Other losers among the big companies included Imperial Tobacco Group (-5.04%), Taylor Wimpey ...

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January 14, 2011

FTSE 100 muted Friday

by Brian Turner
The FTSE 100 was down 0.36% today after a few days of gains in the banking and energy sectors, with the FTSE 250 and FTSE all share down 0.21% and 0.33% respectively. Atlantic Coal and PPA (Pan Pacific Aggregates) were the biggest gainers among the small caps, gaining 13.02% and 19.35%, with some other small energy companies following suit. Recent gains among banks slowed, but Barclays continued up 1.63% to 311 pence ...

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January 11, 2011

Banks and energy leads London up

by Brian Turner
London trading saw a return of confidence, not least after Japan and China affirmed their commitment to buying up European bonds to support the region's sovereign rescue fund. Banks gained from increased investor confidence, with Barclays (BARC) leading the rally, up 5.53% on the day, with HSBC (HSBCA) up 2.42%, Lloyds (LLOY) up 1.52%, and RBS (RBS) up 1.92%. Energy stocks also saw gains: BP continued to engage investor confidence, not least ...

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September 18, 2009

KFG leads 100 with 4.29 percent gain

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were mixed to end the week on Friday. The FTSE 100 added 0.17 percent to 5,172.89 in London, but the FTSE 250 dropped 0.61 percent to 9,306.93. DIY retailer Kingfisher (LSE: KFG) led gainers on the 100 and turned in the best performance in the retail sector as it added 4.29 percent, while clothing retailer Next (LSE: NXT) also scored among the top five gainers ...

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September 17, 2009

BBY leads 100, construction sector

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were up again Thursday as hopes continued that the global economy is making its way out of recession. The FTSE 100 added 0.77 percent to 5,163.78 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.63 percent to 9,363.54. Construction group Balfour Beatty (LSE: BBY) was the best in its sector and led gainers on the 100 as it added 7.94 percent ...

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September 16, 2009

WSM leads 250, energy sector in London

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Wednesday. The FTSE 100 was up 1.63 percent to 5,124.13 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 1.54 percent to 9,305.24. Components of the energy sector led both the 100 and the 250. Wellstream Holdings (LSE: WSM), which designs pipeline systems for the oil and gas industry, led the sector and the 250 as it added 9.52 percent, ...

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September 15, 2009

BT Group, DNLM lead 100, 250

by Elaine Frei

Equities markets in Europe were higher Tuesday on good news from the United States, where retail sales were reported up in August, manufacturing in the New York region saw gains and US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the recession is likely over in the US. The FTSE 100 was 0.46 percent higher to 5,042.13 in London, while the FTSE 250 ...

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September 14, 2009

BA, IMI lead 100, 250 in London

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were mixed Monday after the oil sector declined and miners were largely down on the session. The FTSE 100 was up 0.15 percent to 5,018.85 in London, but the FTSE 250 was down 0.92 percent to 9,123.13. Defense contractor BAE Systems (LSE: BA) had the best day on the 100 as it gained 2.14 percent, while metal products manufacturer IMI (LSE: IMI) led the 250 ...

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September 11, 2009

AQP leads miners higher

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets ended higher Friday, with miners up in London. The FTSE 100 added 0.48 percent to 5,011.47 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.9 percent to 9,207.89. Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP) led a mostly higher mining sector with a gain of 5.19 percent, while gold and silver miner Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) was up 5.07 percent and Lonmin (LSE: LMI) gained 3.24 ...

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September 10, 2009

SPD drops 16 percent in mostly lower retail sector

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were mixed Thursday as banks saw declines and the retail sector was also mostly lower. The FTSE 100 was 0.33 percent lower to 4,987.68 in London, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.12 percent to 9,125.71. Retailers were the biggest losers on both the 100 and the 250, with Sports Direct International (LSE: SPD) down 16.3 percent to ...

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September 9, 2009

CNE, BG up as energy sector sees gains

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Wednesday as the energy sector saw gains following a significant gain in oil prices on Tuesday and banks also were mostly higher. The FTSE 100 added 1.15 percent to 5,004.3 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.13 percent to 9,137.05. Oil explorer Cairn Energy (LSE: CNE) added 4.61 percent while BG Group (LSE: BG; ...

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August 27, 2009

BARC up as other London banks see declines

by Elaine Frei

Equities markets in Europe were lower Thursday as most miners showed declines and banks were mixed at best. The FTSE 100 was 0.43 percent lower to 4,869.35 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.93 percent to 8,701.33. Barclays Bank (LSE: BARC) was the only gainer in the London banking sector as it added 1.63 percent, while Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: ...

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August 26, 2009

Miners lower after disappointing ANTO first half

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were lower Wednesday despite optimistic data that included a gain in German business sentiment. The FTSE 100 was 0.53 percent lower to 4,890.58 in London, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.88 percent to 8,783.21. Miners were lower after UK-listed Chilean miner Antofagasta’s (LSE: ANTO) first-half earnings were reported lower than expectations, sending its shares down by 4.75 percent on ...

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August 25, 2009

PUB adds almost 22 percent on 250

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Tuesday on good economic news from the United States as house prices fell less than had been expected in June, consumer confidence was up in the US, and President Barack Obama nominated Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term as head of the Fed. The FTSE 100 was up 0.42 percent to 4,916.8 in ...

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August 24, 2009

RBS, LLOY lead 100

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Monday as banks and miners were up with investors looking for riskier investments as confidence seemed to be staging a recovery. The FTSE 100 added 0.93 percent in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 1.76 percent to 8,831.89. Banks led the 100, with Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS; NYSE: RBS PRM) adding 6.75 percent to top the gainers ...

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August 21, 2009

BAY adds 7.24 percent as European airlines gain

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Friday, with the FTSE Eurofirst 300 adding 2.19 percent to close at 965.61, its highest closing level since last November and almost 50 percent higher than it was when it hit a record low in March. The gains came on improved sentiment after the National Association of Realtors said that US existing home sales were ...

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August 20, 2009

House builders BDEV, TW see gains

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Thursday as the construction and building materials sectors saw gains. In London, the FTSE 100 added 1.43 percent to 4,756.58 while the FTSE 250 was up 1.65 percent to 8,508.64. Home builder Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) led the 250 with a gain of 9.45 percent while Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) gained 7.49 percent on the session. UK property developers ...

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August 19, 2009

ENRC leads 100, mining sector

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were mixed Wednesday, with London’s markets up slightly but others seeing declines. The FTSE 100 added 0.08 percent to 4,689.67 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.19 percent to 8,370.25. The mining sector was mixed, but Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) led the 100 and the sector’s gainers as it added 6.24 percent while gold and silver miner Fresnillo ...

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August 18, 2009

Amec adds 4.42 percent in London

by Elaine Frei

European equities markets were higher Tuesday after Monday’s declines. London markets were up after reports that inflation held at 1.8 percent in July, although analysts still expect inflation to drop more this year. The FTSE 100 was 0.88 percent higher to 4,685.78 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.97 precen tto 8,354.48. Energy-related engineering group Amec (LSE: AMEC) added 4.42 percent to turn ...

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