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Saturday 04th of July 2009

Latest Investment News

The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:

May 26, 2009

Miner Eurasian adds 6.79 percent in London

by Elaine Frei
Miner Eurasian adds 6.79 percent in London
Most European equities markets were higher Tuesday, but London markets were mixed as the FTSE 100 added 1.06 percent to 4,411.72 but the FTSE 250 dropped 0.15 percent to 7,530.02. Miners led both the 100 and 250, with Eurasian Natural Resources (LSE: ENRC) up 6.79 percent on the 100 while Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC) led both the 250 and the sector ...



May 20, 2009

Lonmin leads miners higher

by Elaine Frei
Lonmin leads miners higher
Most equities markets in Europe were higher Wednesday after miners saw advances on higher prices for metals. In London the FTSE 250 added 0.46 percent to 7,734.01 but the FTSE 100 dropped 0.31 percent to 4,468.41on declines for banks. Miners claimed the top five spots on the gainers list on the 100, led by Lonmin (LSE: LMI) with a gain of 8.11 percent and followed ...



May 18, 2009

Lloyds, Standard Chartered lead London banks higher

by Elaine Frei
Lloyds, Standard Chartered lead London banks higher
European markets saw gains Monday as banks were higher, while in a mixed Asia-Pacific Region India’s Sensex added over 17 percent on election results. In London, the FSTE 100 was up 2.26 percent to 4,446.45 while the FTSE 250 gained 1.39 percent to 7,576.63. Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY) led the 100 and the banking sector with a gain of 9.87 percent, ...



May 15, 2009

Principality launches 4% e-bond for over-50s

by David Masters
Principality launches 4% e-bond for over-50s
Principality Building Society has launched a new two-year bond aimed at silver savers. The e-bond is available online to savers aged over-50, and pays interest at a fixed rate of 4% AER. Savers can deposit between £5,000 and £100,000 into the account. Interest is calculated daily, and customers can opt to have their interest paid monthly or yearly. No withdrawals are permitted before the bond ...



May 14, 2009

Invensys jumps, Thomas Cook Travel falls in London

by Elaine Frei
Invensys jumps, Thomas Cook Travel falls in London
Most European equities markets were higher Thursday. In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.72 percent to 4,362.58 while the FTSE 250 added 0.78 percent to 7,428.77. Engineering group Invensys (LSE: ISYS) had the best day on the 100 with a gain of 13.25 percent, while travel specialist Thomas Cook Group (LSE: TCG) turned in the worst performance on the index ...



May 13, 2009

Enterprise Inns down over 26 percent

by Elaine Frei
Enterprise Inns down over 26 percent
European equities markets closed lower Wednesday after news from the US Commerce Department that retail sales in the United States were lower in April, leading many to the conclusion that the economy is not prepared to recover from the recession just yet. In London, the FTSE 100 fell 2.13 percent to 4,331.37 while the FTSE 250 was down 3.31 percent to 7,371.19. The ...



May 12, 2009

Miners: Lonmin drops 8.56 percent

by Elaine Frei
Miners: Lonmin drops 8.56 percent
European equities markets were mostly lower Tuesday as banks saw declines in London and elsewhere after Credit Suisse (SWX: CSGN; NYSE: CS) issued a warning on UK banks. London’s markets were mixed as the FTSE 250 added 0.18 percent to 7,623.92 but the FTSE 100 dropped 0.22 percent to 4,425.54. Miners were mixed as Lonmin (LSE: LMI) was down 8.56 percent but Talvivaara Mining ...



The Nottingham pays 4.15% on two-year bond

by David Masters
”The
The Nottingham has unveiled a two year fixed-rate bond paying interest at a guaranteed 4.15% AER. Savers can invest between £1,000 and £250,000 in the bond, which is managed remotely by post. A saver investing £25,000 in the bond will see their savings grow by £2,177 before tax through the two year term. According to The Nottingham, the account is likely to be ...



May 11, 2009

A&L launches 9-month fixed-rate business bond

by David Masters
A&L launches 9-month fixed-rate business bond
Alliance & Leicester (A&L) has launched a new nine-month fixed-rate bond aimed at small and medium sized businesses. The Business Bond pays interest at 2.81% AER (2.80% gross), and matures on 1 March 2010. SMEs with savings between £50,000 and £2 million can open the bond online, on the telephone, or in branch. The bond will be available for a limited time whilst funds ...



RBS and NatWest announce 3-year escalator bond

by David Masters
RBS and NatWest announce 3-year escalator bond
RBS and NatWest have launched a new three year fixed-rate bond paying interest at up to 5.0% AER. The escalator bond requires a minimum investment of £5,000, and matures on 29 May 2012. Interest is paid at 3.0% gross in the first year, 4.0% in the second year, and 5.0% in the financial year. Interest can be paid either monthly or annually, and ...



May 7, 2009

Santander launches 4.01% fixed-rate bond

by David Masters
”Santander
Santander's UK banks have launched a new two year fixed-rate bond paying interest at 4.01% gross p.a./AER. Minimum deposit is £30,000, and maximum deposit is £2 million. The bond is available in store from branches of Abbey, Bradford & Bingley, and Alliance & Leicester. Reza Attar-Zadeh, director of savings and investments at Santander UK, said Santander customers benefit from 'the safety and security of one ...



Moneynet reveals top three savings accounts

by David Masters
”Moneynet
Moneynet.co.uk has released its list of the top three savings accounts available to UK savers. The price comparison site said Barclays is best for regular savings, West Bromwich Building Society offers the top rate for fixed-rate accounts, and Barclays comes top for individual savings accounts. Barclays Monthly Saver pays a 'cracking' 6% AER fixed for one year. Deposits are limited to £250 per month, ...



A&L offers new customers 7% on savings

by David Masters
”A&L
Alliance & Leicester (A&L) yesterday re-launched its Premier Regular Saver account. The account pays interest at 7% pa gross/AER, and is designed to encourage people to put aside a fixed amount each month. "The Premier Regular Saver is a great way for people to kick-start a savings habit," said Gillian Almond, A&L’s current accounts manager. "In a year they will have saved up ...



May 6, 2009

Barclays, RBS lower, Standard Chartered up, all on broker comment

by Elaine Frei
Barclays, RBS lower, Standard Chartered up, all on broker comment
European equities markets saw gains Wednesday although banks were mixed in the region. The FTSE 100 was up 1.37 percent to 4,396.49 in London, while the FTSE 250 added 0.44 percent to 7,871.2. Banks were mixed in London with Barclays Bank (LSE: BARC; NYSE: BCS; TYO: 8642) and Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS; NYSE: RBS PRM) both lower ...



May 4, 2009

Fiat up on plan to buy GM European holdings

by Elaine Frei
Fiat up on plan to buy GM European holdings
European markets saw gains Monday after Italian carmaker Fiat (BIT: F) announced a plan to buy into troubled US carmaker General Motors (NYSE: GM). Fiat’s shares were up 8.1 percent on the plan to take over GM’s European operations, just a few days after it agreed to buy into Chrysler, which filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States ...



May 1, 2009

Miner Kazakhmys leads 100 in London

by Elaine Frei
Miner Kazakhmys leads 100 in London
With many equities markets closed for the May Day holiday, trade was slow Friday. Markets were open in London, where the FTSE 100 fell 0.01 percent to 4,243.22 but the FTSE 250 added 0.56 percent to 7,571.33. Kazakhmys (LSE: KAZ) led the 100 with a gain of 10.28 percent while elsewhere in the mining sector Vedanta Resources (LSE: VED) was up 5.21 percent, ...



April 30, 2009

DSG International adds 14.67 percent to lead retailers

by Elaine Frei
DSG International adds 14.67 percent to lead retailers
European equities markets saw gains Thursday. The FTSE 100 added 1.29 percent to 4,243.71 and FTSE 250 gained 2.15 percent to 7,516.13 in London. Retailer DSG International (LSE: DSGI) led its sector higher as it turned in the best performance on the 250 with a gain of 14.67 percent, but music retailer HMV Group (LSE: HMV) dropped 4.66 percent on the ...



NS&I launches inflation busting savings accounts

by David Masters
NS&I launches inflation busting savings accounts
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has launched two new inflation-busting savings accounts. The government-back savings provider said its Index-linked Savings Certificates offer savers the chance to invest up to £15,000 tax free per issue. Interest on the two accounts will be tied to the retail price index (RPI) rate of inflation. Certificates can be held for a three of five year term with a ...



Leeds ISA pays seven times the base rate

by David Masters
Leeds ISA pays seven times the base rate
Leeds Building Society has announced that its fixed-rate ISAs pay interest at up to seven times the Bank of England's base rate. Kim Rebecchi, Leeds's director of sales and marketing, said the building society's five year fixed-rate ISA, which pays interest at 3.5%, is a 'market leading offer'. "With many ISAs in the market paying less than 2%, investors could be ...



April 29, 2009

Royal Bank of Scotland leads banks, FTSE 100

by Elaine Frei
Royal Bank of Scotland leads banks, FTSE 100
Equities markets in Europe were higher Wednesday as banks gained on a better-than-expected quarterly report from a Spanish bank. The FTSE 100 added 2.27 percent to 4,189.59 in London, while the FTSE 250 was up 2.68 percent to 7,346.69. Banks led winners on the 100 as Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS; NYSE: RBS PRM) led the index with a gain ...