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FTSE at 21 month high as Lloyds Banking Group surprises

News - Friday, March 19, 2010

Today, edging up 0.1 per cent or 7.51 points, the FTSE 100 finished at 5650.13 - its highest level since June 2008 as Lloyds Banking Group indicated a return to profit in 2010. Banks were the biggest gainers for the day, riding the announcement from Lloyds to counter selling amongst miners. Lloyds was the top performer, up 8.2 per cent followed by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group up 4.76 per cent.

Banks Lead Buoyant FTSE

News - Friday, March 19, 2010

Arriva Confirms Takeover Talks

News - Thursday, March 18, 2010

Banking and commodity stocks slipped back after recent strong gains on Thursday, but their weakness was offset by strength in pharmaceuticals and energy and the FTSE 100 index closed virtually unchanged at 5,642.62 points.

Premier Farnell and Greggs Dominate FTSE 250

News - Thursday, March 18, 2010

The British government borrowed a record £12.36 billion in February according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday. The figure was less than the £14.75 billion predicted by analysts, however and leaves the Chancellor on track to meet his target of £178 billion for public sector borrowing for the year to March.

Arriva Moves to Head of Queue

News - Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Profit-taking late in the day trimmed a few points of the FTSE 100 index on Wednesday afternoon, but the blue-chip index still managed to close at its highest level for 21 months, up 24.2 points at 5,644.6.

Marks & Spencer on the Back Foot

News - Wednesday, March 17, 2010

There was some positive, if apparently paradoxical, news from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday morning. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell to its lowest level since 1997 in February, yet the overall employment rate was also at its lowest since late 1996. The FTSE 100 made a good start, however, rising 23.51 points or 0.42% to 5,643.94 during morning trading after a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting decided to hold interest rates at their current level.

Greek Debt News Lifts Banks

News - Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The ongoing British Airways (BA) saga took a new, albeit minor, twist on Tuesday afternoon, with management and the unions agreeing to a scheme whereby BA will fix pension contributions at £300 million per annum, but employees can increase their own contributions to maintain benefits at their current level.

Shell Reveals New Strategy

News - Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Investor still had one eye on an interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve, due later in the day, on Tuesday morning, but strength in the financial and commodity sectors helped to drive the FTSE 100 index into positive territory. Shortly before midday, the leading share index was up 16.37 points or 0.3% at 5,610.22 points, having closed down 0.6% on Monday.

Antofagasta Leads Mining Stocks Lower

News - Monday, March 15, 2010

London investors were understandably cautious on Monday afternoon ahead of interest rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan due on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. At the end of a light trading day the FTSE 100 index closed down 31.8 points, or 0.6%, at 5,593.85, surrendering last week's gains.

Miners Under Pressure on Sluggish Morning

News - Monday, March 15, 2010

A scarcity of company news led to a quiet start to trading on the London Stock exchange on Monday morning. Approaching midday the FTSE 100 index was marginally behind at 5,620.97, a loss of 4.68 points or 0.08%.

FTSE Just 8 Points Higher At End Of Sluggish Week

News - Friday, March 12, 2010

At the end of a slow week the FTSE climbed just a few points higher to finish at 5,625.65 or +0.15%. Financials including banks and life groups provided the biggest weight of gains while fresh M&A rumours increased demand for shares in Liberty and its owner MWB Group as well as for BskyB after indications of a News Corp takeover.

U.S. News Lifts Banking Stocks

News - Friday, March 12, 2010

A rally on Wall Street overnight, which left the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 44.51 points, or 0.42%, at 10,611.84, initially bolstered the FTSE 100 Index on Friday morning. Gains were short-lived, however and shortly after midday Britain's leading share index had retreated to 5,633.80, up 16.54 points, or 0.29%.

Chinese Trade Data Pressurises Miners

News - Thursday, March 11, 2010

A 2.7% rise in consumer prices in China in February was too small to cause an immediate rise in interest rates, according to analysts, but, nevertheless, put pressure on the Beijing authorities – whose ceiling for inflation, this year, is 3% – to consider a rise as a means of cooling an overheating economy. This, in turn, would hinder demand for raw materials and economic growth worldwide.

Chinese Whispers Weigh on FTSE

News - Thursday, March 11, 2010

The news that inflation in China is running at a faster pace than expected gave investors the jitters on Thursday morning as fears that the Beijing authorities may impose tighter fiscal policies resurfaced. The price of crude oil fell below $82 a barrel, retreating from an 8-week high, as a result and, approaching midday, the FTSE 100 was down 0.18% to 5,630.65 points.

Highest FTSE Close since June 2008

News - Wednesday, March 10, 2010

London equities lacked strength and direction for most of the day on Wednesday, but found both late in the day after trade data from China revealed that exports and exports rose by 45.7% and 44%, respectively, in February compared with the same month last year and a bright start on Wall Street. The FTSE 100 Index closed up 38.27 points, or 0.7%, to 5,640.27, its highest closing level for 20 months.

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