Tag: Alliance & Leicester
FTSE 100 dropped 1.0% to 5,935
by Greg Secker on Mar.02, 2011, under Greg's Blogs
UK Stock Market Report 2nd March 2011
UK markets closed lower yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index reversing its early session gains, as renewed concerns that political turmoil could spread to Saudi Arabia dampened investor sentiments. Travels and Cruise operators, Carnival, TUI Travel and International Consolidated Airlines Group, dropped between 0.8% and 5.6%, while Intercontinental Hotels Group shed 4.0%, as oil prices rose, after reports of military movement in Saudi Arabia. Among retailers, HMV Group plunged 21.7% after the company forecasted that its net income would miss market estimates, while Kingfisher lost 4.5%, suffering from broker’s downgrade. Banks, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group, dropped between 0.3% and 3.0%, as risk appetite decreased, and after HSBC was downgraded by various brokers. FTSE 100 dropped 1.0% to 5,935.8. FTSE 250 fell 0.4% to 11,574.1.
Banks, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, dropped between 1.1% and 4.7%, after HSBC reported its full-year earnings that missed market expectations
by Greg Secker on Mar.01, 2011, under Greg's Blogs
UK Stock Market Report 1st March 2011
UK markets closed mixed yesterday, as gains in miners and oil producers were offset by losses in banks and retailers. Miners, Vedanta Resources, Xstrata and Antofagasta, gained between 0.7% and 2.1%, in line with a rise in base metal prices. Among oil producers, Essar Energy advanced 3.5%, as Credit Suisse initiated coverage on the stock with an “Overweight” rating, while Tullow Oil, Petrofac and Cairn Energy also paced gains. However, banks, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, dropped between 1.1% and 4.7%, after HSBC reported its full-year earnings that missed market expectations. Associated British Foods lost 5.9%, leading retailers lower, after the company warned that operating profit margins for its retail group, Primark, would be under pressure from higher cotton prices. FTSE 100 dropped 0.1% to 5,994.0. FTSE 250 gained 0.1% to 11,621.3.
MPC moots revival of QE programme
by Greg Secker on Jul.22, 2010, under Greg's Blogs
UK Stock Market Report 22nd July 2010
The FTSE 100 closed up 75.18 points, at 5,214.64.
A survey showed yesterday Britons’ expectations for inflation in the coming year eased to 2.7 per cent in July from three per cent in June, their lowest since April.
Policymakers from the Bank of England considered extending the £200bn quantitative easing (QE) program this month after weaker data pointed to a deteriorating economic outlook. The minutes of the monetary policy meeting held on 7 and 8 July, revealed that the committee considered “arguments in favor of a modest easing in the stance of monetary policy”. “A further modest monetary stimulus would act to offset the softening in demand prospects and make it more likely that the inflation target would be met in the medium term,” the minutes said.
Santander is re-examining plans to list its UK operations to raise cash for the purchase of assets including 318 Royal Bank of Scotland branches, it is understood. Depending on economic conditions, the group could float 20 per cent of the division comprising Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and parts of Bradford & Bingley in the autumn. Such a move would generate around £3bn to fund bolt-on growth.
Due for release today;
GBP Retail Sales 9.30am
USD Unemployment Claims 1.30pm
USD Fed Chairman Bernanke Testifies 2.30pm
USD Existing Home Sales 3.00pm
CAD BOC Monetary Policy Report 3.30pm
CAD BOC Press Conference 4.15pm
