|    FM Home   |    FM News   |    FM Forum   |    FM Blog   |   
Saturday 04th of July 2009

Latest Investment News

The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:

July 3, 2009

HSBC launches Onshore Investment Bond

by David Masters
HSBC launches Onshore Investment Bond
HSBC this week launched the Onshore Investment Bond, aimed at clients seeking a professionally managed, whole market investment portfolio. The bond offers Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) a choice of investments in almost 2,000 funds - OIECs and Unit Trusts - from more than 100 fund managers. Two versions of the bond are available - 'Select', for fee charging advisers, and 'Flexible' for commission-priced advisers. Select ...



July 2, 2009

Diageo sees best day on 100; WPP Group drops most

by Elaine Frei
Diageo sees best day on 100; WPP Group drops most
European equities markets were lower Thursday after new data from the United States Labor Department revealed that unemployment was up again there in June and on a separate report that said Eurozone unemployment rose to 9.5 percent, the highest level in a decade. In London, the FTSE 100 was 2.45 percent lower to 4,234.27 while the FTSE 250 ...



July 1, 2009

Miners, led by Vedanta, Hochschild, gain

by Elaine Frei
Miners, led by Vedanta, Hochschild, gain
European equities markets were higher Wednesday as miners and most banks saw advances. In London, the FTSE 100 was 2.15 percent higher to 4,340.71 and the FTSE 250 added 1.24 percent to 7,506.71. Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was 9.86 percent higher to lead the 100 while gold and silver miner Hochschild (LSE: HOC) was the top gainer on the 250, where it added ...



NS&I launches FTSE-linked bond

by David Masters
NS&I launches FTSE-linked bond
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) yesterday launched the 18th issue of its Guaranteed Equity Bond (GEB). The five-year bond pays returns linked to the performance of the FTSE 100 index. Over the term of the bond investors can earn a maximum of 40% on their original investment, with no risk to their capital. Returns are calculated by comparing the start level of the FTSE 100 index, ...



June 30, 2009

Randgold Resources leads miners lower

by Elaine Frei
Randgold Resources leads miners lower
Europe’s equities markets saw declines Tuesday as the banking sector and miners lost ground and the oil sector was mixed in London. The FTSE 100 was 1.04 percent lower to 4,249.21 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.84 percent to 7,414.56 in London. Miners were lower as Randgold Resources (LSE: RRS; NAS: GOLD) dropped 3.14 percent to lead decliners on the 100 and Anglo American ...



June 29, 2009

British Airways declines in winning London session

by Elaine Frei
British Airways declines in winning London session
European equities markets saw gains Monday as the European Commission predicted that the worst of the economic crisis could be over in the region even though a separate report from the Commission warned that unemployment could remain high and could limit recovery. In London the FTSE 100 was 1.25 percent higher to 4,294.03 while the FTSE 250 added 1.23 percent to ...



June 17, 2009

Nationwide guarantees returns on combination savings

by David Masters
”Nationwide
Nationwide this week launched a new savings account for customers looking for both short-term and long-term returns. The Guaranteed Combination Plan combines a one-year 4% fixed-rate bond with a six-year equity bond linked to the stock market. The equity bond, provided by Legal & General, tracks the FTSE 100 Index, the DJ EuroSTOXX 50 Index, and the S&P 500 Index, with a guarantee ...



June 16, 2009

BT Group, Telecom Plus lead 100, 250

by Elaine Frei
BT Group, Telecom Plus lead 100, 250
European equities markets were mixed Tuesday, with London markets reflecting the varied results in the rest of Europe. The FTSE 100 was up 0.06 percent to 4,328.57 while the FTSE 250 was 0.13 percent lower to 7,483.6. Telecommunications-related shares were the top winners on both London indexes as BT Group (LSE: BT.A; NYSE: BT) added 8.01 percent on the 100 while multi-utility ...



June 15, 2009

Lonmin biggest loser among miners

by Elaine Frei
Lonmin biggest loser among miners
European equities markets were lower Monday, with individual gainers difficult to come by on the main indexes in London, Paris and Frankfurt. The FTSE 100 was 2.61 percent lower to 4,326.01 in London, while the FTSE 250 fell 2.57 percent to 7,493.52. The five biggest losers on the 100 were all in the mining sector, with Lonmin (LSE: LMI) seeing the biggest decline on ...



June 11, 2009

British Airways, Carnival down as travel shares falter

by Elaine Frei
British Airways, Carnival down as travel shares falter
Equities markets were higher Thursday in Europe. The FTSE 100 was up 0.57 percent to 4,461.87 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.54 percent to 2,330.58. Travel-related shares were lower as British Airways (LSE: BAY; NYSE: BAB) fell 1.79 percent and cruise line operator Carnival (LSE: CCL; NYSE: CCL) dropped 2.44 percent in the biggest decline of the day on ...



June 10, 2009

Vedanta Resources leads miners, FTSE 100

by Elaine Frei
Vedanta Resources leads miners, FTSE 100
European equities markets were higher Wednesday as most miners saw gains on speculation that prices for some metals could go higher in the next few years. In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.73 percent to 4,436.75 and the FTSE 250 added 0.5 percent to 7,729.98. The five top gainers on the 100 were all from the mining sector, led by Vedanta Resources ...



June 9, 2009

Thomas Cook Group leads 100 with 10 percent gain

by Elaine Frei
Thomas Cook Group leads 100 with 10 percent gain
European equities markets were mixed Tuesday, with most up but a few lower. In London the FTSE 100 dropped 0.01 percent to 4,404.79 while the FTSE 250 added 0.05 percent to 7,691.65. Travel agent Thomas Cook Group (LSE: TCG) saw the best result of the day on the 100 as it added 10.04 percent while insurer Aviva (LSE: AV) dropped ...



June 8, 2009

Hochschild leads miners lower

by Elaine Frei
Hochschild leads miners lower
Europe’s equities markets saw declines Monday as banks stocks and miners had trouble gaining traction. The FTSE 100 was 0.75 percent lower to 4,405.22 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.77 percent to 7,687.86. Among miners, Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC) dropped 7.7 percent for the worst performance of the day on the 250 and the worst loss in the sector, while over on the ...



June 5, 2009

Rio Tinto adds 10 percent

by Elaine Frei
Rio Tinto adds 10 percent
European equities markets saw gains to end the week Friday. The FTSE 100 added 1.18 percent to 4,438.56 while the FTSE 250 gained 1.14 percent to 7,747.33. Miner Rio Tinto added 10.33 percent to make it the session’s best performer on the 100, while Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was up 9.31 percent, Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) gained 7.31 percent and BHP was 6.8 ...



June 4, 2009

Liberty International leads winners on FTSE 100

by Elaine Frei
Liberty International leads winners on FTSE 100
Equities markets were mixed in Europe Thursday, on a day that both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank held interest rates steady, at 0.5 percent and 1 percent respectively. In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.08 percent to 4,386.04 but the FTSE 250 dropped 0.37 percent to 7,660.07. Gains came in the real estate sector, where Liberty International ...



June 3, 2009

Developer Shaftsbury drops 7 .49 percent

by Elaine Frei
Developer Shaftsbury drops 7.49 percent
European equities markets were lower Wednesday on bad economic news out of the United States as the Institute for Supply Management reported that new factory orders were down in April by more than anticipated and after ADP Employer Services said that the US private sector lost 532,000 jobs in May. The FTSE 100 was down 2.09 percent to 4,383.42 in London, while the ...



June 1, 2009

Talvivaara, Xstrata lead miners higher

by Elaine Frei
Talvivaara, Xstrata lead miners higher
European equities markets were higher Monday, with most banks and the commodities sector higher on hopes that the economy is headed for recovery while carmakers gained on investor relief that General Motors (NYSE: GM) finally filed for bankruptcy after months of rumor and speculation. In London, the FTSE 100 added 2 percent to 4,506.58 while the FTSE 250 was up 2.46 percent to ...



May 29, 2009

Taylor Wimpey leads FTSE 250 gainers

by Elaine Frei
Taylor Wimpey leads FTSE 250 gainers
Most equities markets in Europe were higher Friday as banks and miners saw gains. The FTSE 100 added 0.69 percent to 4,417.94 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.71 percent to 7,572, with gains coming as Nationwide Building Society reported that house prices in the UK were up by 1.2 percent in May. Home builder Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW) was the ...



Saga launches 3.82% 15-month bond

by David Masters
Saga launches 3.82% 15-month bond
Saga has launched a new 15-month fixed-rate bond paying interest at 3.82%. Launched yesterday, the Saga Personal Finance Bond guarantees the fixed-rate for the duration of the bond. Savers can open the bond for as little as £1, and can opt to have interest paid on a monthly or yearly basis. Saga said being able to choose monthly interest payments gives savers “greater control over ...



May 27, 2009

Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison all higher in London

by Elaine Frei
Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison all higher in London
European equities markets saw gains Wednesday. In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.1 percent to 4,416.23 while the FTSE 250 was up 0.77 percent to 7,588.05. Most retailers were higher, with supermarkets among the winners as Wm. Morrison (LSE: MRW) added 1.53 percent, J. Sainsbury (LSE: SBRY) was up 1.65 percent and Tesco (LSE: TSCO) gained 2.84 percent. Elsewhere in the region, the ...