Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African Resources, on delivering sector-leading returns for shareholders. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksRDSA.L Share News (RDSA)

  • There is currently no data for RDSA

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

London close: Stocks end lower on lacklustre UK GDP

Thu, 28th Jan 2016 16:07

(ShareCast News) - London stocks ended lower on Thursday after uninspiring UK fourth quarter economic growth data.The Office for National Statistics said UK gross domestic product rose 0.5% quarter-on-quarter in the final three months of 2015, up from 0.4% in the third quarter, as expected by analysts.However, year-on-year GDP growth fell to 1.9% in the fourth quarter from 2.1% in the previous quarter.GDP also slowed overall in 2015 to an annualised rate of 2.2% from 2.9% a year earlier."The preliminary estimate of UK GDP in Q4 confirmed that the recovery ended last year on a slightly lacklustre note, with growth a bit below its trend rate and still driven entirely by the services sector," said Vicky Redwood, chief UK economist at Capital Economics.Redwood said she believes growth was not strong enough to meet one of Bank of England Governor Mark Carney's three conditions for raising interest rates.The BoE announces its latest policy decision next Thursday but it is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 0.5% amid weak global growth and low inflation.The Federal Open Market Committee also expressed concerns about the global economic slowdown, as it voted unanimously to maintain rates at 0.50% on Wednesday, as expected by analysts.In the Fed's accompanying statement, it said it was closely monitoring global economic and financial developments, providing little indication on when it might next raise rates.US data on Thursday showed durable orders dropped 5.1% last month, more than the 0.7% that was forecast and compared to the 0.5% decrease in November, according to the Commerce Department.US jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 278,000 in the week ending 23 January from an upwardly-revised 294,000 the previous week, the Labor Department revealed. Economists had been expecting claims to come in at 282,000.US pending home sales nudged up just a touch in December, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. The NAR's monthly index rose just 0.1% to 106.8 in December from a downwardly-revised 106.7 the previous month, as a large increase in the Northeast outpaced declines in the other three major regions. This fell well short of economists' expectations for a 0.8% increase.Elsewhere, consumer confidence in the Eurozone fell more than expected in January. The European Commission's economic sentiment indicator slipped to 105 from 106.7 in December, falling short of economists' expectations for a reading of 106.4.Germany's inflation, harmonised to compare with other European countries (HICP), rose an annualised 0.4% in January, as forecast by analysts, up from a 0.2% gain in December, preliminary data from the Federal Statistics Office showed.Meanwhile, oil prices were sitting higher amid reports that Russia said it might cooperate with Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries to control the global oversupply. Brent crude rose 3.7% to $34.38 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate increased 3.4% to $33.45 per barrel at 1634 GMT.Oil producers gained on the pick-up in crude prices, including Royal Dutch Shell, BP, BG Group, Tullow Oil and Petrofac.BG Group and Shell were also given a boost by news that shareholders from both sides have approved their proposed merger. Shell's £35bn takeover offer will create the world's largest liquefied natural gas trader.Anglo American surged as investors welcomed its fourth quarter production report. Output for the three months rose 3% from the end of 2014 and the third quarter, while output for the year as a whole was up 5%.Centrica's shares slid after Societe Generale downgraded the stock to 'sell' from 'hold'.Melrose Industries plunged after it returned around £2.4bn in cash back to shareholders. The company gave 240p for each share held after the £3.3bn disposal of its Elster business to Honeywell International in December.FirstGroup tumbled after the transport operator lowered its operating profit guidance for the current financial year amid a challenging trading environment.Mitchells & Butlers advanced after the pub company reported strong Christmas and New Year sales limited the damage to its sales figures for the nine weeks to 23 January.Kier Group jumped after saying full-year trading is in line with expectations, sending shares surging. Market MoversFTSE 100 (UKX) 5,927.10 -1.06%FTSE 250 (MCX) 16,190.83 -0.55%techMARK (TASX) 3,099.78 -1.72%FTSE 100 - RisersAnglo American (AAL) 275.90p 8.73%Tesco (TSCO) 166.45p 3.39%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 1,496.00p 2.33%Antofagasta (ANTO) 384.00p 2.29%Royal Dutch Shell 'A' (RDSA) 1,495.00p 2.19%BP (BP.) 368.45p 1.53%Smiths Group (SMIN) 923.00p 1.48%BHP Billiton (BLT) 679.60p 1.45%BG Group (BG.) 1,043.50p 1.36%Old Mutual (OML) 161.60p 1.19%FTSE 100 - FallersAshtead Group (AHT) 890.00p -7.77%Carnival (CCL) 3,384.00p -6.42%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 524.50p -5.07%Centrica (CNA) 200.20p -4.71%ARM Holdings (ARM) 953.50p -4.22%Shire Plc (SHP) 3,887.00p -4.02%CRH (CRH) 1,793.00p -3.86%Mondi (MNDI) 1,124.00p -3.85%Vodafone Group (VOD) 215.30p -3.54%TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 1,173.00p -3.46%FTSE 250 - RisersVedanta Resources (VED) 236.40p 10.78%Drax Group (DRX) 252.00p 7.42%Tullow Oil (TLW) 163.50p 6.93%Ted Baker (TED) 2,958.00p 5.30%Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 924.50p 4.35%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 782.50p 4.33%Cranswick (CWK) 2,069.00p 4.23%Wood Group (John) (WG.) 625.00p 3.73%Kier Group (KIE) 1,259.00p 3.45%Aggreko (AGK) 856.00p 3.44%FTSE 250 - FallersMelrose Industries (MRO) 290.60p -84.92%FirstGroup (FGP) 90.30p -11.73%Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,382.00p -5.63%Smith (DS) (SMDS) 342.80p -5.56%PayPoint (PAY) 788.50p -5.00%Home Retail Group (HOME) 143.00p -4.41%OneSavings Bank (OSB) 310.10p -4.26%UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 523.50p -4.12%Supergroup (SGP) 1,451.00p -3.91%CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,613.00p -3.70%
More News
3 Dec 2021 09:44

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Jefferies ups SSE, AJ Bell; Deutsche likes BP

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Jefferies ups SSE, AJ Bell; Deutsche likes BP

Read more
3 Dec 2021 08:43

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks rebound on oil and travel; US jobs ahead

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks rebound on oil and travel; US jobs ahead

Read more
2 Dec 2021 18:54

UPDATE 2-Shell scraps plans to develop Cambo North Sea oilfield

(Adds detail)By Ron Bousso and Shadia NasrallaLONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it had scrapped plans to develop the Cambo oilfield in the British North Sea, which became a lightning rod for climate activists seeking to ...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 18:54

UPDATE 1-Shell scraps plans to develop Cambo North Sea oilfield

(Adds Siccar Point statement, background)LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it had scrapped plans to develop the Cambo North Sea oilfield, which became a lightning rod for climate activists seeking to halt Britain's devel...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 18:54

UPDATE 3-Shell scraps plans to develop Cambo North Sea oilfield

(Adds investor comment)By Ron Bousso and Shadia NasrallaLONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it had scrapped plans to develop the Cambo oilfield in the British North Sea, which became a lightning rod for climate activists s...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 18:02

Shell and partner scrap plans to develop North Sea oilfield

LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell and Siccar Point have decided not to go ahead with the development of the Cambo oilfield in the British North Sea due to a weak economic case, Shell said on Thursday."After comprehensive screening of the...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 17:05

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks fall as Omicron variant fears mount

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks fall as Omicron variant fears mount

Read more
2 Dec 2021 12:03

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Europe hit by Omicron but Wall Street to rebound

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Europe hit by Omicron but Wall Street to rebound

Read more
2 Dec 2021 10:08

UPDATE 2-European stocks fall as Omicron worries rattle investors

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)* STOXX 600 gives back a chunk of Wednesdays gains* Apple suppliers hit by report on slowing demand* Vifor Pharma surges on takeover speculat...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 08:31

SSE and Equinor to proceed with $4 bln Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm

OSLO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - British utility SSE and Norwegian energy company Equinor have secured financing to proceed with the construction of the 3 billion pound ($3.98 billion) Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm in Britain, the companies said on Thu...

Read more
2 Dec 2021 07:03

Shell launches $1.5bn buyback from Permian sale

(Sharecast News) - Royal Dutch Shell has launched a $1.5bn share buyback as the first stage of returning cash to shareholders from the sale of its Permian business in the US.

Read more
1 Dec 2021 12:10

German oil lobby seeks net zero CO2 emissions by 2045

FRANKFURT, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Germany's oil industry will aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045, moving away from fossil fuel to low carbon products such as biofuels and renewable energy-derived hydrogen, the industry's lobby group en2x said on...

Read more
1 Dec 2021 12:10

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: IAG and Whitbread lead Omicron rebound

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: IAG and Whitbread lead Omicron rebound

Read more
1 Dec 2021 08:54

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Omicron fears ease again but uncertainty lingers

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Omicron fears ease again but uncertainty lingers

Read more
30 Nov 2021 17:33

UPDATE 3-U.S. security review stalls sale of Shell Texas refinery to Mexico's Pemex

(Updates with comment from congressman critical of sale)By Erwin SebaHOUSTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. national security review has delayed the sale of Royal Dutch Shell's controlling interest in a Texas refinery to Mexico's national oil company, ...

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.