FTSE 100 index opens up as miners and ITV make gains while Associated British Foods, Rolls-Royce and Smith and Nephew fall December 21, 2015 The FTSE 100 index opened up this morning, as losses from Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF) and Rolls-Royce were compensated for by gains at miners, BG Group and ITV. The UK's top blue-chip index was 0.64 per cent up at 6,052 points in early morning trading. BG Group was 0.97 per cent higher at 916.85p per share [...]
Miner BHP Billiton considering dividend cut in face of continuing commodities rout December 20, 2015 Mining giant BHP Billiton is considering slashing its dividend in the new year, as the commodities rout shows no sign of abating. The Anglo-Australian group was placed on review facing a possible downgrade by ratings agency Moody’s, prompted by “the precipitous decline and persistent weakness in commodity prices”. Moody’s said it will specifically review BHP’s [...]
FTSE rallies on expectations of a US rate rise – London Report December 17, 2015 RISES in Dixons Carphone and Pearson pulled the markets up for a second session in a row, ahead of a 25 basis point rise in US interest rates. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 43.40 points, or 0.7 per cent at 6,061.19 points by the close, outperforming the broader European market. The gains were [...]
Blue-chip index falls for eighth straight session – London Report December 15, 2015 OIL AND commodity price concerns have continued to drag on the FTSE 100, with the index touching 10-week lows at its close last night. It finished down 1.3 per cent at 5,874, its eighth straight session of losses, and down around 10 per cent so far this year. The price of key metals, including copper [...]
Short sellers eye Anglo American despite “radical restructuring” December 14, 2015 Hedge funds beefed up their positions in Anglo American, even after the miner unveiled a “radical restructuring” which it hopes will enable it to stay afloat amid a prolonged rout in the price of iron ore and other metals. Short-selling interest in Anglo American ticked up from 6.4 to 6.5 percentage of shares on loan [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 index closes down on Old Mutual, miners and oil companies December 11, 2015 The FTSE 100 index closed sharply lower, ending the week below the 6,000 mark and rounding off a poor week. The UK's top blue-chip index closed 2.22 per cent lower at 5,952 points, the lowest late September, led lower by miners, oil companies and Old Mutual. Old Mutual led the index lower, closing 10.62 per cent down at 155.7p per [...]
Iron ore on course for longest losing streak since financial crisis December 11, 2015 Iron ore prices are on course to fall for the ninth week in a row, meaning the steel-making material will clock its longest losing streak in seven years. Iron ore has shed 3.8 per cent this week, haven fallen to just $38.52 a tonne today. This marks a record low in daily prices compiled by Metal Bulletin, which [...]
FTSE 100 index opens down as Sports Direct and Old Mutual share price woes continue December 11, 2015 The FTSE 100 index opened down this morning as Sports Direct and Old Mutual extended losses, the day after both companies shed over 10 per cent of their share prices. The UK's top blue-chip index was down 0.18 per cent at 6,076 points. Sports Direct's share price was down 2.5 per cent as the market opened, falling to 577.75p per share, [...]
Anglo American is on track to join Lonmin and other struggling miners in the FTSE’s 90 per cent club December 11, 2015 Anglo American could be the next miner to join the FTSE's 90 per cent club, as the ongoing commodities rout takes its toll. The 90 per cent club is the one company nobody wants to join: made up of members of the FTSE all share who have lost more than 90 per cent of their value over the [...]
FTSE closes flat as the oil and metal rout ends – London Report December 10, 2015 THE FTSE 100 index closed down yesterday despite a number of miners shaking off a volatile start to the day to close higher. The index closed 0.14 per cent down at 6,126 points, even though gains were seen at companies including Glencore, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, as well as Ashtead Group. “It [...]