Latest Investment News
The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:
October 6, 2008
European equities markets declined sharply Monday as the euro weakened, oil and metals prices fell, and bank bailouts spread to Europe from the US, spurring several governments to pledge to insure bank deposits in an attempt to maintain confidence in their banking systems.
In London the FTSE 100 dropped 7.85 percent to 4,589.19, with no winners on the ...
Kazakhmys loses 26 percent to lead losses on FTSE 100
by Elaine Frei
October 5, 2008
It has been confirmed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that the compensation limit for bank deposits has been increased from £35,000 to £50,000 and will take effect on Tuesday, 7 October.
The new limit applies to each customer so joint accounts will be guaranteed up to £100,000.
According to Chancellor Alistair Darling, the new limit means that 98% of ...
Savings guarantee increased from £35k to £50k
by Kay Murchie
October 3, 2008
European equities markets saw gains Friday on speculation that the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve will both cut interest rates soon, especially after the president of the European Central Bank said that Bank officials discussed cutting rates before deciding yesterday to hold steady at 4.25 percent for the present.
In London, the FTSE 100 was up 2.26 percent ...
UK banks led higher by HBOS, Lloyds
by Elaine Frei
October 2, 2008
Stock markets face a further crash over October, as a combination of bad economic data, credit derivative write downs, and the threat of further bank failures, plague financial markets already freezing up.
The finance sector is bracing itself for further nasty shocks over the new few weeks, as a slew of worsening economic factors come together.
A particular concern is that October sees credit ...
Stock Markets face October crash
by Brian Turner
October 1, 2008
Most European equities markets saw gains Wednesday ahead of a scheduled US Senate vote on a version of a $700 billion bailout plan for the US financial sector as well as on hopes that the House of Representatives will approve the plan when it revisits it later in the week.
In London, the FTSE 100 was up 1.17 percent to ...
Lonmin declines after Xstrata says it won’t bid
by Elaine Frei
Savings of up to £50k to be protected
by Kay Murchie
September 30, 2008
European equities markets saw gains Tuesday after Democrats and Republicans said the US Congress will pass a bailout of the US financial sector, possibly as early as later this week.
Banks in the region were mixed, with Bank of Ireland (ISEQ: BKIR; LSE: BKIR: NYSE: IRE) up 21 percent and Anglo Irish Bank (ISEQ: ANGL; LSE: ANGL; FWB: CKL) adding 67 percent ...
Anglo Irish Bank gains 67 percent
by Elaine Frei
September 29, 2008
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost the most points in a single day in its history and other New York equities markets dropped sharply Monday as the US House of Representatives refused to pass a plan to bail out the US financial sector.
The Dow dropped 777.68 points on the session, nearly 100 points more than the previous record of 684.81 points, ...
Wall Street plunges on bailout vote
by Elaine Frei
September 26, 2008
Equities markets in Europe saw declines Friday on delays in the approval of the US bailout plan and on the failure of US savings and loan Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM), which was seized by government regulators and sold to JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM; TYO: 8634) for $1.9 billion.
In London, the FTSE 100 was down 2.09 percent to 5,088.47 while the ...
Global equities hurt by Washington Mutual failure
by Elaine Frei
Are Wachovia Bank and Ambac next to fail?
by Brian Turner
September 25, 2008
Banks and insurers led European equities markets higher Thursday on the possibility of takeovers in both sectors and on the hope that an agreement on the US bailout plan will come soon.
The FTSE 100 added 1.99 percent to 5,197.02 in London, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.32 percent to 8,434.65.
All five of the biggest gainers on the 100 ...
Old Mutual, four other insurers lead gains on 100
by Elaine Frei
September 24, 2008
European equities markets declined Wednesday after carmakers were down on early gains in oil prices and after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the credit crisis has cut spending by individuals and businesses.
In London the FTSE 100 was down 0.79 percent to 5,095.57 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.56 percent to 8,407.36.
British Energy Group (LSE: BGY) added 5.66 percent after ...
British Energy shares see gains
by Elaine Frei
September 23, 2008
European equities markets declined Tuesday after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee that if Congress fails to pass the government’s $700 billion plan to buy bad debts from banks, markets and the economy could be harmed.
Declines also came as commodities related shares fell on declines in the prices of crude oil and metals.
In London, the FTSE ...
Eurasian leads miners lower in London
by Elaine Frei
September 22, 2008
European equities markets were lower Monday on higher oil prices that hurt the retail and travel and leisure sectors even as Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium all banned short-selling of shares in some companies, following the example of the US and the UK as well as some Asia-Pacific nations.
In London, the FTSE 100 was down 1.41 percent to ...
Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns lead leisure sector lower
by Elaine Frei
September 19, 2008
The FTSE 100 had its biggest percentage gain in history Friday as European markets soared on plans to rebuild confidence in the markets by the US and UK governments and others.
In London, the FTSE 100 added 8.84 percent to 5,311.3 while the FTSE 250 gained 7.75 percent to 8,982.7.
The 100’s gain came on big losses as well ...
British Energy loses big, BT Group wins big in London
by Elaine Frei
Moody’s threatens downgrades on MBIA and Ambac
by Brian Turner
September 18, 2008
Most European equities markets were lower Thursday on sentiment that infusions of money into the financial system by several central banks will not be sufficient to turn around the credit crisis.
In London the FTSE 100 was down 0.66 percent to 4,880 but the FTSE 250 added 0.32 percent to 8,336.8.
Gold miner Hochschild (LSE: HOC) added 25.15 percent as the biggest ...
Gold miner Hochschild up on rising prices
by Elaine Frei
Shares in US Financials rally after crisis
by Brian Turner
September 17, 2008
European equities markets were lower Wednesday after US housing starts declined in August and on declines among miners as investors worried about demand for metals.
In London the FTSE 100 was 2.25 percent lower to 4,912.4 while the FTSE 250 dropped 1.18 percent to 8,309.8.
The top five decliners on the 100 were all from either the banking or mining sector, with HBOS (LSE: HBOS) ...
HBOS sees big decline
by Elaine Frei
September 16, 2008
European equities markets were mostly lower Tuesday on continuing fallout from the Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH) bankruptcy and after Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service both cut their credit ratings on US insurer American International Group (NYSE: AIG).
This downgrade will likely make it more difficult for AIG to raise the money it needs to remain in business.
In ...
Rating cut for American International Group hurts equities markets
by Elaine Frei
