Latest Investment News
The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:
November 20, 2008
Europe’s equities markets declined Thursday after miners and the oil sector saw declines.
In London the FTSE 100 was down 3.26 percent to 3,874.99 while the FTSE 250 dropped 2.24 percent to 5,578.68.
The biggest losers on the 100 were insurers as Prudential (LSE: PRU; NYSE: PUK) was down 16.33 percent and Aviva (LSE: AV) turned in the worst performance of the day with ...
Insurers Prudential, Aviva see declines
by Elaine Frei
November 18, 2008
Most European equities markets saw gains Tuesday.
The FTSE 100 added 1.85 percent to 4,208.55 in London, but the FTSE 250 was 0.85 percent lower to 5,925.98.
Insurers were higher as Legal & General (LSE: LGEN) added 7.54 percent, Aviva (LSE: AV) was up 8.58 percent and Friends Provident (LSE: FP) gained 8.59 percent.
The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.73 percent to 843.56 ...
Friends Provident leads UK insurers higher
by Elaine Frei
uSwitch.com: Banks quick to cut savings rate
by Kay Murchie
November 17, 2008
European equities markets were lower Monday on a prediction from the Confederation of British Industry predicted that the UK’s gross domestic product will decline by almost 2 percent next year, making the British economy look worse than earlier thought.
In London the FTSE 100 was down 2.38 percent to 4,132.16 while the FTSE 250 dropped 2.46 percent to 5,977.03.
Miners were lower as copper miner Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ)dropped ...
Kazakhmys, Gem Diamonds lead miners lower
by Elaine Frei
November 14, 2008
European equities markets were mostly higher Friday as optimism increased a bit on better earnings outlooks and news on sales.
In London the FTSE 100 was 1.53 percent higher to 4,232.97 but the FTSE 250 dropped 0.47 percent to 6,127.76.
The oil sector was higher as oil prices climbed but pared gains as oil prices fell later in the session, with BP (LSE: ...
Gains for BP, Royal Dutch Shell
by Elaine Frei
November 12, 2008
European equities markets saw declines Wednesday on continuing earnings concerns and on reduced broker recommendations.
In London the FTSE 100 was 1.52 percent lower to 4,182.02 while the FTSE 250 dropped 2.39 percent to 6,251.18.
Hedge fund Man Group (LSE: EMG) had the worst day on the 100 with a decline of 23.39 percent, while pubs operator Enterprise Inns (LSE: ETI) turned ...
Hedge fund Man Group in steep decline
by Elaine Frei
November 10, 2008
Most European equities markets saw gains Monday after an announcement from the Chinese government that it will spend 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) in the next two years in support of its economy.
In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.89 percent to 4,403.92 and the FTSE 250 added 1.08 percent to 6,656.56 on gains in the mining sector after metals prices ...
British Airways gains on RBS upgrade
by Elaine Frei
November 7, 2008
European equities markets were higher Friday after the oil sector saw gains as oil prices rose and on the possibility that the US Federal Reserve might cut interest rates again before the end of the year, and despite gains in the US unemployment rate.
In London the FTSE 100 was up 2.69 percent to 4,387.14 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.99 ...
Marks & Spencer adds nearly 3 percent
by Elaine Frei
November 6, 2008
European equities markets saw substantial declines on disappointing earnings reports and after the Bank of England and the European Central Bank both cut interest rates during the day to 3 percent and 3.25 percent respectively.
The FTSE 100 was down 5.7 percent to 4,272.41 in London, while the FTSE 250 was 3.5 percent lower to 6,521.02.
The biggest loser on the 100 ...
Hedge fund Man Group drops 31 percent
by Elaine Frei
November 5, 2008
Most European equities markets saw declines Wednesday on declining oil and metals prices and on earnings reports that disappointed.
In London the FTSE 100 was down 2.34 percent to 4,530.73 and the FTSE 250 dropped 0.31 percent to 6,757.46.
BP (LSE: BP; NYSE: BP; TYO: 5051) was down 1.92 percent while Royal Dutch Shell‘s (LSE: RDS A, RDS B; NYSE: RDS.A, RDS.B) A ...
BP, Royal Dutch Shell see declines
by Elaine Frei
November 3, 2008
European equities markets were higher Monday after the London Interbank Office Rate, or Libor, dropped 17 basis points to 2.86 percent and as investors took little notice of reports from the UK and US that manufacturing activity fell in both nations in October.
In London the FTSE 100 added 1.51 percent to 4,443.28 while the FTSE 250 gained 2.57 percent to 6,443.71.
Miners were mixed as copper miner ...
Copper miner Kazahkmys gains 18 percent
by Elaine Frei
October 30, 2008
European equities markets were up Thursday after interest rate cuts in the US, China and Taiwan and on encouraging earnings reports in the region.
In London the FTSE 100 added 1.16 percent to 4,291.65 while the FTSE 250 gained 3.92 percent to 6,223.78 as banks and miners saw gains and insurer Old Mutual (LSE: OML; JSE: OLOML) led the 100 with a ...
Insurer Old Mutual adds 18 percent
by Elaine Frei
October 24, 2008
Equities markets in Europe saw declines Friday as investors were concerned about earnings amid a worsening global economy.
Oil producers were lower on more declines in crude oil prices even as OPEC announced its decision to cut oil production by 1.5 million barrels per day from 1 November.
French oil company Total (Euronext: FP; NYSE: TOT) down 3.6 percent while Royal Dutch ...
Total, other European oil producers, see declines
by Elaine Frei
October 23, 2008
Equities markets were mixed in Europe on Thursday as UK retail sales were down in September and as business confidence dropped to its lowest level in almost fifteen years in France.
The FTSE 100 added 1.16 percent to 4,087.83 but the FTSE 250 dropped 1.67 percent to 6,128.65.
The oil sector saw gains after oil prices recovered as Iran called for the ...
BP, Royal Dutch Shell gain on session
by Elaine Frei
October 22, 2008
European equities markets saw significant losses Wednesday as further concerns about recession were spurred after Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, who said in a speech that the UK is probably already entering a recession.
The FTSE 100 was 4.46 percent lower to 4,040.89 and the FTSE 250 dropped 3.27 percent to 6,232.62 in London.
Miners were among the worst performers ...
Aquarius Platinum falls 21 percent
by Elaine Frei
October 21, 2008
European equities markets were mixed Tuesday as fears continued that the global economy is sliding toward recession.
The FTSE 100 was down 1.24 percent to 4,229.73 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.68 percent to 6,442.11.
Homebuilders were higher, with some more than gaining back yesterday’s declines.
Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV) added 12.67 percent while Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) was up 16.67 percent and Persimmon (LSE: PSN) gained ...
Persimmon leads homebuilders higher
by Elaine Frei
October 20, 2008
European equities markets were higher Monday on higher oil prices, positive earnings reports and on another bailout in the banking sector.
In London, the FTSE 100 added 5.41 percent to 4,282.67 while the FTSE 250 gained 1.4 percent to 6,399.45.
Homebuilders were lower on the 250 on broker downgrades to “sell” within the sector as Bovis Homes (LSE: BVS) was down 10.64 ...
Persimmon leads homebuilders lower on broker downgrades
by Elaine Frei
October 17, 2008
Equities markets in Europe were mostly higher Friday.
London’s indexes were mixed, with the FTSE 100 adding 5.22 to 4,063.01 while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.49 percent to 6,311.39.
Miners were mixed, with UK Coal (LSE: UKC) down 33.96 percent after it said output for the year will miss goals due to bad weather in the third quarter while Gem ...
UK Coal drops almost 34 percent on output decline
by Elaine Frei
October 16, 2008
European equities markets saw another day of sharp declines on concerns that US and European bailout plans will not be enough to hold off a recession.
The FTSE 100 was down 5.35 percent to 3,861.39 in London while the FTSE 250 dropped 5.43 percent to 6,342.71.
The biggest declines on the 100 came in the travel sector, where TUI Travel (LSE: TT) ...
Thomas Cook in biggest decline on FTSE 100
by Elaine Frei
October 15, 2008
European equities markets were lower Wednesday as UK unemployment claims rose 31,800 in September to 939,900, after US retail sales were reported down in the same month, and on worries that initiatives taken to protect banks will not be sufficient to avoid a global recession.
The FTSE 100 was 7.16 percent lower to 4,079.59 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped ...
Eurasian, Talvivaara lead FTSE 100, 250 lower
by Elaine Frei
