Markets
London - The FTSE 100 slipped 4.42 points to close at 5,602.30 yesterday. Liberty International pushed property companies lower after reporting net asset value that missed analysts’ estimates. Imperial Tobacco lost 2.5% after UBS lowered its recommendation for the cigarette maker to “sell” from “neutral”, citing a 41 percent rally in the shares over the past 12 months. Antofagasta gained 1.1%, even though it reported a drop in full year net income to $667.7 million. However, the copper producer said it is seeking a mining licence in Pakistan that may rival its largest project following “very good” talks with the head of the provincial government. This morning the blue chip index falls 7.66 points to 5,594.64.

Posted: March 10th, 2010 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 gained 6.96 points to close at 5,606.72 yesterday, a new 18 month high. Better than expected results from Petrofac offset declines among drugmakers with AstraZeneca pressured after its cancer drug failed in trials. This morning the index slips 5.01 points to 5,601.71. Data released overnight showed British house prices grew last month at their slowest pace since August after the amount of new property coming on to the market grew faster than the number of new buyers, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said. Meanwhile, British retail sales recovered last month from January’s snow-related slide, helped by strong sales of clothing and footwear, a survey by the British Retail Consortium found. Investors will also eye January British trade numbers, due at 0930 GMT.

Posted: March 9th, 2010 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 climbed 72.6 points higher to 5,599.76 on Friday. Investors cheered the jobs data from the US, sending the index its highest level since September 2008. Xstrata led miners higher, advancing 5.6%, while Rio Tinto rose 2.7%. Prudential gained 1.4% after saying 30 additional lenders have agreed to underwrite the $20 billion rights offer to fund its purchase of AIG’s Asian unit. This morning the FTSE has risen 5.28 points to 5,605.04 after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the euro region is ready to rescue Greece should the government struggle to fund its budget deficit. Petrofac leads the risers’ board after pleasing investors with its full year results. Higher metal prices push miners higher.

Posted: March 8th, 2010 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 closed 6.05 points lower at 5,533.21 yesterday. The Bank of England, as expected, kept the benchmark interest rate at a record low. Policy makers at the central bank also said it would keep its bond purchase program on hold for a second month to assess whether the £200 billion spent so far is enough to prevent a relapse in the economy. This morning the index climbs 14.65 points to 5,541.81. Schroders continues to lead the market higher following yesterdays upbeat figures. WPP is among the biggest fallers after reporting its most recently quarterly figures.

Posted: March 5th, 2010 under Asset Management.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 rose 49.15 points to close at 5,533.21 yesterday. Standard Chartered jumped 5.3% after saying full year profit increased as company lending rose. Kazakhmys and Rio Tinto led a rally among raw material producers. This morning the FTSE is 7.65 points lower at 5,525.56. Amec and Aviva lead the fallers following disappointing earnings figures. In contrast, Schroders tops the risers’ board, up 3.3%, after its quarterly update.

Posted: March 4th, 2010 under Asset Management.
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