FTSE resilient despite Greek deal fears March 7, 2012 The FTSE 100 proved resilient this morning as strong corporate results shored up the index despite falls on other markets across the globe. European shares overall steadied after two straight days of losses as investors braced for news on whether Greece would succeed in restructuring its huge debt pile. The Greek bond swap deal must [...]
FTSE slides as miners hit by China’s cut in growth targets March 5, 2012 BRITAIN’S FTSE 100 fell yesterday, as weakness in miners and engineers outstripped strength in defensive stocks after China cut its growth forecasts, while mixed economic data in Europe and the United States dimmed the outlook for global growth. London’s blue chip index shed 36.31 points or 0.6 per cent to 5,874.82, although it held within [...]
Serco profits rise as Asia drives growth February 28, 2012 OUTSOURCING firm Serco will target further expansion in fast-growing markets in Australasia and the Middle East in 2012, after the regions helped it ride out tougher times in its core UK and US markets. FTSE 100-listed Serco, which runs services from the Docklands Light Railway to prisons and air traffic control centres around the world, [...]
FTSE gains fuelled by miners February 28, 2012 The FTSE 100 tracked overnight gains in Asia fuelled by lower oil prices and rising metal prices. Brent crude futures slipped to below $124 a barrel after a surge which had been triggered by fears over supply from the Middle East. A shortage would threaten to derail global growth and investors have been eyeing oil [...]
THE WEEK AHEAD February 26, 2012 Today A diverse group of FTSE 100 reporters will kick off a busy week in the corporate calendar this morning, with banking giant HSBC likely to be top of many investors’ watch list. Analysts are expecting the bank’s geographical diversity to offset any potential weakness in it investment banking division, with profits expected to hit [...]
Capita lifted by its strong order book February 23, 2012 A STRING of contract wins and a buoyant sales market are making outsourcing giant Capita confident of better growth prospects this year, after a six per cent profits rise for 2011 underpinned by acquisitions. Capita, which runs contact centres and customer services for customers such as BBC TV licensing, The Pension Services and the Criminal [...]
FTSE inches upwards as US figures propel commodities February 23, 2012 BRITAIN’S top shares rose yesterday as investors welcomed robust corporate earnings newsflow, with Royal Bank of Scotland spearheading an advance in banking stocks after the lender unveiled in-line full-year results. The UK benchmark closed up 21.34 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,937.89. RBS, up 5.1 per cent, was the second-top blue-chip riser, recovering after [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS February 20, 2012 SCHRODERS Citi downgrades the asset manager from neutral to “sell” and increases its target price on the stock to £13.70 from £13.10, after a year-to-date rally of 18 per cent in the value of its shares. The broker says that Schroders – and fund managers in general – need to see near-term fund flow recovery [...]
Weir stock is most shorted on FTSE 100 February 15, 2012 ENGINEERING firm Weir has become the most shorted stock on the FTSE 100, as investors bet the company’s share price will be dented by weak demand for specialist mining equipment. Information provided by Data Explorers showed that 13.48 per cent of shares are out on loan – double the amount that were shorted only three [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 26, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES OUTSOURCER SERCO TO CUT 500 JOBS Serco, the FTSE 100 outsourcer, is to overhaul its management structure, axeing at least 500 jobs, as it adapts to tougher market conditions in the UK, according to people close to the company. The group, which runs services including London’s bicycle hire scheme and four prisons, is [...]