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Wednesday 17th of March 2010

Latest Investment News

The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:

March 17, 2010

Arriva adds nearly 17 percent on bid possibility

by Elaine Frei
Arriva adds nearly 17 percent on bid possibility
European markets saw gains Wednesday. The FTSE 100 was 0.43 percent higher to 5,644.63 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.79 percent to 10,008.5. Shares in the travel and leisure sector were in focus on the 250, where public transport operator Arriva (LSE: ARI) added 16.82 percent to lead the index and all shares in London after it said it ...



Ethical investments could increase 1000% this year

by David Masters
Ethical investments could increase 1000% this year
Sustainable and ethical investments are expected to increase their share in the ISA market by more than 1000% this year, according to research by The Co-operative. Ethical investments currently have a 1% share of the ISA market, but The Co-operative predicts that this could increase thirteen-fold later this year as savers use their increased ISA allowance for more eco-friendly investments. The Co-operative's ...



March 16, 2010

Close Brothers Group leads gains in London

by Elaine Frei
Close Brothers Group leads gains in London
European markets were higher Tuesday, with gains coming after Standard & Poor’s issued a report saying that Greece is likely to meet immediate goals toward righting its troubled economy. The FTSE 100 was up 0.48 percent to 5,620.43 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.52 percent to 9,930.04. The biggest gain in London came on the 250, where investment bank Close ...



March 15, 2010

Eurasian Natural Resources leads FTSE 100 lower

by Elaine Frei
Eurasian Natural Resources leads FTSE 100 lower
European equities markets were lower Monday on concerns following a report from Moody’s Investors Services that the credit ratings of the United States and European nations such as the UK, Germany and France could be threatened. The FTSE 100 was 0.57 percent lower to 5,593.85 in London, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.63 percent to 9,879.01. Most companies dealing with basic resources ...



March 12, 2010

BSkyB adds 5 percent on News Corp bid rumors

by Elaine Frei
BSkyB adds 5 percent on News Corp bid rumors
Most European equities markets were higher Friday, although the CAC-40 was 0.04 percent lower to 3,927.4 in Paris. The FTSE 100 added 0.15 percent to 5,625.65 in London, while the FTSE 250 gained 0.88 percent to 9,941.56. British Sky Broadcasting Group led gainers on the 100, adding 5 percent on rumors that News Corp (NYSE: NWS) could be getting ready ...



March 11, 2010

Hochschild Mining leads sector lower

by Elaine Frei
Hochschild Mining leads sector lower
European equities markets were lower Thursday after new data from China showed that nation’s inflation hit a sixteen month high in February, causing concerns that China will tighten its monetary policy further. The FTSE 100 was down 0.41 percent to 5,617.26 in London, while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.11 percent to 9,854.44. Most miners saw declines on the news from China as investors ...



March 10, 2010

ICAP, Tullett Prebon lead 100, 250 in London

by Elaine Frei
ICAP, Tullett Prebon lead 100, 250 in London
Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were higher Wednesday. The FTSE 100 added 0.68 percent to 5,640.57 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.93 percent to 9,865.29. Inter-dealer money brokers led both the 100 and the 250, with Tullett Prebon (LSE: TLPR) gained 25.73 percent on the 250 after it was identified as a possible takeover target of foreign ...



March 9, 2010

Shanks Group down on rejected bid

by Elaine Frei
Shanks Group down on rejected bid
Equities markets in Europe were mixed Tuesday. The FTSE 100 was down 0.08 percent to 5,602.3 in London, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.12 percent to 9,774.68. Waste management company Shanks Group (LSE: SKS) was the biggest decliner of the day in London as it dropped 15.12 percent on the 250 after its board of directors rejected a takeover offer. The real estate sector ...



March 8, 2010

Forth Ports adds over 25 percent on offers

by Elaine Frei
Forth Ports adds over 25 percent on offers
European equities markets were mixed Monday as London markets gained slightly but markets in Paris and Frankfurt were lower. The FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 each added 0.12 percent on the session in London, to 5,606.72 and 9,786.39 respectively. Forth Ports (LSE: FPT) was the biggest winner by far in London as it added 25.6 percent on the 250 after the ...



March 5, 2010

Schroders spends second day atop FTSE 100 leaders list

by Elaine Frei
Schroders spends second day atop FTSE 100 leaders list
European equities markets were higher Friday, at least partly owing to news from the US Labor department that the US economy lost only 36,000 non-farm jobs last month rather than the 50,000 decline that had been expected. The FTSE 100 was up 1.31 percent to 5,599.76 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 1.13 percent to 9,774.72. For the second ...



Norway excludes tobacco investments from oil fund

by David Masters
Norway excludes tobacco investment from oil fund
Norway's government pension fund can no longer be invested in tobacco companies under new guidelines introduced by the country's Ministry of Finance. "Production of tobacco has been introduced as a new criterion for exclusion, and we have already followed up the Council on Ethics' recommendations to sell our holdings in tobacco producing companies," said finance minister Sigbjørn Johnsen. The $450 billion ...



March 4, 2010

Schroders leads 100 in London

by Elaine Frei
Schroders leads 100 in London
European equities markets were mixed Thursday as miners declined on lower copper prices but most banks managed gains on the session. The FTSE 100 was 0.11 percent lower to 5,527.16 in London, but the FTSE 250 added 0.55 percent to 9,665.29. Asset management group Schroders (LSE: SDR; SDRt) led gainers on the 100 as non-voting shares were up 6.39 percent and voting shares added ...



Kirk organises fair finance conference

by David Masters
Kirk organises fair finance conference
Faith communities need to do more to understand the environmental and social consequences of the financial markets, according to church leaders in Scotland. Rev Ian Galloway, convenor of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council, said: "Communities of faith need to consider the social and environmental impacts of our financial system." He added that churches need to take the lead in working out ...



March 3, 2010

Miners lead London markets higher

by Elaine Frei
Miners lead London markets higher
European equities markets were higher Wednesday as miners saw gains on higher metals prices and after Greece’s cabinet approved new measures to try to get the nation’s debt under control. The FTSE 100 added 0.9 percent to 5,533.21 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 0.14 percent to 9,612.17. Most miners were higher on the session, with three groups in the sector placing ...



March 2, 2010

British Airways leads 100 higher

by Elaine Frei
British Airways leads 100 higher
European markets were up Tuesday, pushed higher by banks and miners. The FTSE 100 added 1.45 percent to 5,484.06 in London, while the FTSE 250 gained 1.25 percent to 9,598.65. British Airways (LSE: BAY) led the 100 as it added 6.17 percent, while the best performances in London came over on the 250 as plastics group Filtrona PLC (LSE: FLTR) and IT services ...



Buffett confident of US housing market recovery

by Kay Murchie
Buffett confident of US housing market recovery
Respected US billionaire investor Warren Buffett has said the problems in the US property market will be over within a year. In his annual letter to shareholders in Berkshire Hathaway, the investment group controlled by Mr Buffett, he said prices will remain 'far below bubble levels' for the medium term. He added: "People thought it was good news a few years ...



March 1, 2010

Insurer Prudential drops 12 percent on acquisitions news

by Elaine Frei
Insurer Prudential drops 12 percent on acquisitions news
European markets were higher Monday as commodities prices jumped, but some insurers were lower on the session. The FTSE 100 added 0.96 percent to 5,405.94 in London, while the FTSE 250 gained 1.45 percent to 9,479.83. In a mixed insurance sector, Prudential (LSE: PRU) dropped 12.03 percent to lead declines on the 100 and in London after it said it will ...



February 25, 2010

UK business investment sees substantial fall

by Kay Murchie
’UK
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today reported a sharp fall in business investment, raising concern over the second estimate of fourth quarter GDP figures, which are due to be published tomorrow. According to the ONS, business investment fell by 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2009 to £27.1 billion - the steepest annual fall since records commenced in 1967. On ...



February 24, 2010

Lloyds leads banks ahead of results

by Elaine Frei
Lloyds leads banks ahead of results
European equities markets were mixed Wednesday. In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.52 percent to 5,342.92 but the FTSE 250 was down 0.31 percent to 9,359.18. The gains for the 100 came as most banks advanced after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that US interest rates will remain low for the time being. Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) led the sector with ...



February 19, 2010

Proposed Child Trust Fund cuts leave parents fuming

by David Masters
Proposed Child Trust Fund cuts leave parents fuming
Middle class parents are outraged at plans by the Conservative Party to limit Child Trust Funds (CTFs) to the poorest families if they win the next election. Research by Family Investments found that eight in ten parents do no support the plans, announced by shadow chancellor George Osbourne earlier this month. The study found that 96% of parents think CTFs are ...