RPC to beat profit forecast

Friday 30 Sep 2011

Plastics supplier RPC expects its adjusted pre-tax profits for the first half to be ahead of expectations after benefitting from synergies from the integration of its plastics and cardboard packaging business Superfos and growth in sales of products with big margins, such as coffee capsules.

Friday newspaper round-up: Autonomy, North Sea gas, Bundestag

Friday 30 Sep 2011

US close: Jobs data boosts Wall Street

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

The focus switched back from the euro crisis to domestic affairs with stocks mostly rising after some well-received jobs data.

London close: Miners drag down Footsie

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

London was out of step with global stock markets, as it ended the day in the red, despite a bill to expand the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) sailing through the Bundestag with ease today.

Final US GDP is in line with expectations

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

The third and final estimate of second quarter US real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rose to an annualised 1.3%, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Alexon calls in administrators

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Troubled ladies fashion group Alexon has been bought by the private equity company Sun Capital Partners.

US pre-open: Stocks move up sharply

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

The main US equity benchmarks will begin today´s session up by 1.5% on average, according to pre-market futures.

London midday: No rally for FTSE 100

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

London has failed to join European bourses higher following the passing through the German Bundestag of plans to expand the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).

Vodafone tightens ties with Swisscom

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Mobile phone network colossus Vodafone is extending its strategic partnership agreememnt with Swiss telecoms group Swisscom.

Europe midday: Banks bounce as Bundestag passes EFSF bill

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

European markets have received a fillip from the passing through the German Bundestag of plans to expand the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).

SEGRO offloads six London industrial estates

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Industrial property company SEGRO has sold six industrial estates in Greater London to Legal and General Property for £38.2m.

Market overview: Germany backs enhanced bailout fund

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

1120: Stocks are still in the red with miners dragging the top share index lower amid worries over the possible effect of the Eurozone crisis on overall global growth. That said, the German parliament has just voted in favour of an enhanced euro rescue fund. Xstrata leads miners lower. Tate & Lyle moves higher after the sweeteners group said it expects to perform in line with expectations. FTSE

RM slumps after profit warning

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Educational software supplier RM has warned that full year results will fall short of expectations after the usually strong seasonal uplift in the second half failed to materialise.

Market overview: FTSE 100 down 24

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

1041: London stocks are still down, ignoring the move higher by their would be peers on the Continent. All eyes are on the result of today´s vote in the Bundestag as regards Greece and the result of the latest Italian debt auctions. At first glance Uk macroeconomic data out today has come in slightly ahead of expectations. Uk house prices rose 0.1% on month according to Nationwide while mortgage

London open: Stocks fall back as euro saga drags on

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Stocks have fallen back in early dealings amid continuing edginess over the Eurozone crisis.

Market overview: FTSE 100 down 24

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

0820: Stocks are slightly lower in early dealings with mining and oil stocks prominent among the heaviest fallers. Mining giant Rio Tinto is at the bottom of the pile with oil group BP also losing value. On the plus side, Tate & Lyle moves higher after the sweeteners group said it expects to perform in line with expectations. Bid rumours have lifted the price of Imperial Tobacco. FTSE 100 down 24

ICAP sticking with forecasts despite bumper August

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Inter-dealer broker ICAP said revenue in the first half of its financial year was marginally ahead of the corresponding period of last year, giving it no cause to amend full-year expectations outlined at the time of his Annual General Meeting in July.

Thomas Cook bins divi after tougher September

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Though it stopped short of issuing another profit warning, package tour firm Thomas Cook said September has been a more challenging month than July and August, while it has also suspended future dividend payments as it seeks to rebuild its balance sheet.

Outlook stays sweet for Tate & Lyle

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Sweeteners group Tate & Lyle expects to perform in line with expectations over the full year after a strong performance in the six months to 30 September.

London pre-open: Weaker trend to continue

Thursday 29 Sep 2011

Yesterday's late dive is set to continue this morning with City sources predicting the FTSE 100 will open down almost 90 points from yesterday's close of 5,281. Investors are banking some of their recent profits ahead of today's vote in the German Bundestag on the Eurozone bailout fund.