openbrief

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 12 March 2010

Dominic Key — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:52:44 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 fell 23.31 points to close at 5,617.26 yesterday. Heavily weighted mining companies’ dragged stocks lower as base metal prices fell. Home Retail helped to limit declines after forecasting earnings ahead of analysts’ expectations. Thomas Cook was the biggest percentage riser after saying at an investor presentation that it can achieve an operating profit margin of 5.5% to 6% over the next three to five years. This morning the index is 2.86 points higher at 5,620.12.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 11 March 2010

Dominic Key — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:57:26 +0000

Markets London - UK stocks closed higher on Wednesday, buoyed by strength in commodity stocks, supported by trade data from China, and in banks and insurers as Wall Street opened up strong. The FTSE100 closed 38.27 points higher at 5640.57.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 10 March 2010

Dominic Key — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:49:49 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 slipped 4.42 points to close at 5,602.30 yesterday. Liberty International pushed property companies lower after reporting net asset value that missed analysts’ estimates. Imperial Tobacco lost 2.5% after UBS lowered its recommendation for the cigarette maker to “sell” from “neutral”, citing a 41 percent rally in the shares over the past 12 months. Antofagasta gained 1.1%, even though it reported a drop in full year net income to $667.7 million. However, the copper producer said it is seeking a mining licence in Pakistan that may rival its largest project following “very good” talks with the head of the provincial government. This morning the blue chip index falls 7.66 points to 5,594.64.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 9 March 2010

Dominic Key — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:50:15 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 gained 6.96 points to close at 5,606.72 yesterday, a new 18 month high. Better than expected results from Petrofac offset declines among drugmakers with AstraZeneca pressured after its cancer drug failed in trials. This morning the index slips 5.01 points to 5,601.71. Data released overnight showed British house prices grew last month at their slowest pace since August after the amount of new property coming on to the market grew faster than the number of new buyers, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said. Meanwhile, British retail sales recovered last month from January's snow-related slide, helped by strong sales of clothing and footwear, a survey by the British Retail Consortium found. Investors will also eye January British trade numbers, due at 0930 GMT.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 8 March 2010

Dominic Key — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:37:57 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 climbed 72.6 points higher to 5,599.76 on Friday. Investors cheered the jobs data from the US, sending the index its highest level since September 2008. Xstrata led miners higher, advancing 5.6%, while Rio Tinto rose 2.7%. Prudential gained 1.4% after saying 30 additional lenders have agreed to underwrite the $20 billion rights offer to fund its purchase of AIG’s Asian unit. This morning the FTSE has risen 5.28 points to 5,605.04 after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the euro region is ready to rescue Greece should the government struggle to fund its budget deficit. Petrofac leads the risers’ board after pleasing investors with its full year results. Higher metal prices push miners higher.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 5 March 2010

Dominic Key — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:03:57 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 closed 6.05 points lower at 5,533.21 yesterday. The Bank of England, as expected, kept the benchmark interest rate at a record low. Policy makers at the central bank also said it would keep its bond purchase program on hold for a second month to assess whether the £200 billion spent so far is enough to prevent a relapse in the economy. This morning the index climbs 14.65 points to 5,541.81. Schroders continues to lead the market higher following yesterdays upbeat figures. WPP is among the biggest fallers after reporting its most recently quarterly figures.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 4 March 2010

Dominic Key — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:45:11 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 rose 49.15 points to close at 5,533.21 yesterday. Standard Chartered jumped 5.3% after saying full year profit increased as company lending rose. Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto led a rally among raw material producers. This morning the FTSE is 7.65 points lower at 5,525.56. Amec and Aviva lead the fallers following disappointing earnings figures. In contrast, Schroders tops the risers’ board, up 3.3%, after its quarterly update.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 3 March 2010

Dominic Key — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:10:31 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 rallied 78.12 points to close at 5,484.06 yesterday. British Airways soared the most since November after Deutsche Lufthansa SA reported a narrower than expected loss. ICAP, the world’s largest broker of transactions between banks, rallied 4.6% as UBS advised buying the shares. Intercontinental Hotels and ARM Holdings led gains among companies with US sales as the pound weakened against the dollar for a sixth day. This morning the index has fallen 7.6 points to 5,476.46.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 2 March 2010

Dominic Key — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:59:18 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 climbed 51.42 points to 5,405.94 yesterday as investors speculated Greece may receive assistance to finance its debt. Miners were prominent as metal prices boosted the earnings outlook for the sector. Pearson was among the biggest risers after reporting an increase in profit. Prudential led the market lower after agreeing the deal with AIG. Shares in the insurer slumped 12% as a result. This morning the FTSE is 5.90 points higher at 5,411.84.

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 1 March 2010

Dominic Key — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:47:25 +0000

Markets London - Miners and energy stocks helped push the FTSE100 higher by the close on Friday. A slightly improved economic outlook boosted financial stocks. Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered gained 1.4-1.9 percent. Lloyds Banking Group fell however, after its full year results disappointed. The FTSE100 closed 76.30 points higher to finish at 5354.52. Commodity stocks were stronger as metal prices bounced back and crude approached $80 per barrel. Anglo American, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Lonmin and Kazakhmys added 2.4-3.6 percent. Energy stocks, BG Group, BP and Royal Dutch Shell rose 1.3-2 percent.

‘Fit notes’, not sick notes

Angela Gorton — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:39:00 +0000

As from 6 April 2010 GP’s will be required to issue a Statement of Fitness for Work as opposed to the traditional sick notes that have formerly been issued. The aim is to focus on what the employee can still do in the workplace in an attempt to support them returning to work earlier. [...]

DAILY STOCKMARKET REPORT 26 February 2010

Dominic Key — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:01:44 +0000

Markets London - The FTSE 100 lost 64.69 points to close at 5,278.22 yesterday. Miners were dragged lower by falling metal prices, while the broader market suffered on the back of the jobs data from the US. Xstrata and Rio Tinto both dropped more than 3%, weighing heavily on the index. British American Tobacco declined 2.3% after reporting net income that missed analysts’ estimates. This morning the index is 45.19 points higher at 5323.41. Serco leads the risers, jumping 6.8% while Lloyds is the biggest faller, down 1.8%, after both companies released their full year reports.