Latest Investment News
The latest news on equities, commodities, and bonds:
January 5, 2009
European equities markets were up Monday even though Citigroup (NYSE: C) issued downgrades to “underweight” to several European sectors, including banking and chemicals.
In London, where the FTSE 100 added 0.39 percent to 4,579.64 and the FTSE 250 was up 1.78 percent to 6,745.17, banks were mixed, with Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN; SEHK: 2888) up 6.15 percent even as HBOS ...
Standard Chartered gains in London as HBOS declines
by Elaine Frei
January 2, 2009
European equities markets closed higher Friday, helped by gains in the mining sector.
In London, the FTSE 100 added 2.88 percent to 4,561.79 and the FTSE 250 gained 4.19 percent to 6,627.17 as miners led winners on both indices.
Aquarius Platinum (LSE: AQP; ASX: AQP; JSE: AQP) led all miners traded in London with a gain of 20.2 percent while the biggest winner ...
Aquarius Platinum, Xstrata lead miners in London
by Elaine Frei
UK resolves to save in New Year
by David Masters
Brits told to pile on the pounds in 2009
by David Masters
December 22, 2008
Thirteen and a half million Brits did not save a penny during 2008, research by Alliance & Leicester has revealed.
Eighteen percent of people questioned for the survey said they had to use savings to cover bills in 2008, whilst 19% said they were disappointed with their 2008 savings effort.
One in five of those who did save in 2008 said they had ...
Brits not saving despite credit crunch
by David Masters
Interest rates slashed on savings
by David Masters
December 18, 2008
With Bank of England cuts in the base rate of interest expected to continue, Brits with savings are best to invest in fixed-rate accounts to protect their finances.
This is the advice of price comparison site Moneysupermarket.com, who believe that a fixed-rate ISA is the safest place for savings during the economic downturn.
And with recession and job losses looming, the number of people ...
Fixed-rate accounts best for savers
by David Masters
December 2, 2008
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has introduced a rule which allows merged building societies to keep their separate compensation limit.
In the past, anyone with money in two building societies that merge could find only the first £50,000 of their savings protected.
It is hoped that the new level of protection will mean that people with savings that exceed £50,000 in ...
Building societies become safe haven for savers
by Kay Murchie
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
