Markets
London - The FTSE 100 is currently just 10.94 points higher at 4,767.52. Intertek leads the index higher, up 3.9%, after Bank of America upgraded the stock to Buy from Underperform. British Airways is also stronger, gaining 3%. Sage tops the fallers’ board after U.S. financial software peer Intuit says fiscal 2010 earnings would be below analysts’ estimates. BHP Billiton falls 1.7% as it faces strike action at its Spence copper mine in Chile after workers called for higher wages.

Posted: August 21st, 2009 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 is currently 49.20 points higher at 4,738.87. Energy stocks drive the market higher following the rally in oil prices. Both BP and Royal Dutch Shell rise more than 1% as a result. Mining stocks are also higher after metal prices firmed. Antofagasta adds 3.2% while Kazakhmys gains 3%. Banking stocks are also in favour, with RBS rising 3.3% and Lloyds Banking Group up 2.7%.

Posted: August 20th, 2009 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 is currently 41.92 points lower at 4,643.86. Scottish & Southern tops the fallers’ board after going ex-dividend, the energy company drops 5.1% as a result. HSBC falls 2.7% for the same reason. Shire loses 3.4% after JPMorgan downgraded the company to Neutral, saying the near term upside now seems priced in. Eurasian Natural Resources provides a bright spot for the index after topping analyst estimates with its first half results. Shares in the miner are 5.8% higher.

Posted: August 19th, 2009 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 is currently 34.91 points higher at 4,649.92. Miners dominate the risers’ board, following a bounce in the price of copper. Xstrata gains 3.7% while Rio Tinto adds 3.1%. Royal Bank of Scotland is in focus, rising 2.6%, following a report that it is looking at following Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group and selling part of its asset management arm. Petrofac tops the fallers’ board, down 2.2%, after Morgan Stanley cut its rating on the stock.

Posted: August 18th, 2009 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 is currently 37.65 points lower at 4,676.32 as investors lock in profits. Miners go lower after a drop in commodity prices, as do oil companies after a drop in crude. On the upside, Eurasian Natural Resources and Aviva lead the risers following broker upgrades.

Posted: August 17th, 2009 under Asset Management.
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