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
30 Dec 2021 09:28

UPDATE 2-FTSE 100 edges down as COVID fears dull festive cheer

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)* Industrial stocks eye best performance in 23 years* Travel and leisure hit by Omicron fears* Ashtead the top YTD performer on FTSE 100* UK ...

Read more
30 Dec 2021 05:33

UPDATE 5-Oil prices rise slightly ahead of OPEC+ meeting next week

* U.S. crude, fuel stocks fell last week; output rises -EIA* Saudi king says OPEC+ pact 'essential' for oil market stability (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments to settlement, adds OPEC+ meeting details and PSM details)By...

Read more
28 Dec 2021 09:41

S.African court halts Shell's offshore seismic survey

CAPE TOWN, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A South African high court on Tuesday blocked Shell from conducting seismic testing offshore from South Africa's pristine Wild Coast, in the latest ruling in a case seeking to prevent the oil major from exploring for...

Read more
27 Dec 2021 14:01

Mexican president says Pemex to close Deer Park deal in January

MEXICO CITY, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Mexican state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) will complete its purchase of a controlling interest in a Texas oil refinery in January, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday.Mexico's go...

Read more
24 Dec 2021 10:03

UPDATE 1-Russia says Europe missing out on gas with Nord Stream 2 delay

(Recasts, adds quote, background)MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Europe, struggling with soaring gas prices, is missing out on additional Russian supplies amid delays to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a top Russian official signalled on Friday.Deputy Prim...

Read more
24 Dec 2021 08:26

Russia's Novak: Nord Stream 2 hindered by politics

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The launch of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline is being hindered by politics, but Russia still hopes its certification will be completed by mid-2022, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.The...

Read more
24 Dec 2021 08:19

Russia says Nord Stream 2 a bargaining chip for U.S., EU, Interfax reports

MOSCOW, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project linking Russia with Europe has become a bargaining chip in a game played by the United States and the European Union, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday, ...

Read more
23 Dec 2021 14:14

Third Point's Loeb slams activists after UK fund chairman quits

LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Hedge fund Third Point's boss Dan Loeb on Thursday blamed the departure of the chairman of the firm's London-listed fund on "inexperienced" and "juvenile antics" of activist investors.Third Point Investors Limited (TPIL)...

Read more
22 Dec 2021 20:56

Shell declares force majeure on Nigerian Forcados crude

LAGOS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian subsidiary SPDC has declared force majeure on exports of Nigerian Forcados crude oil after the obstruction of a tanker path by a malfunctioning barge, the company said in a statement.The actio...

Read more
22 Dec 2021 13:49

UPDATE 3-Mexico says U.S. approves Deer Park refinery deal, sees completion early 2022

(Adds details)MEXICO CITY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has authorized the purchase by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) of Royal Dutch Shell's controlling interest in a Texas oil refinery in a transaction that should conclude early next year,...

Read more
22 Dec 2021 13:49

UPDATE 2-Mexico says U.S. government approves Deer Park refinery deal

(Adds context, comment from Pemex CEO)MEXICO CITY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has authorized the purchase by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) of Royal Dutch Shell's controlling interest in a Texas oil refinery, Mexican President Andres Manu...

Read more
22 Dec 2021 13:49

UPDATE 1-Mexico says U.S. government approves Deer Park refinery deal

(Adds details)MEXICO CITY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has authorized the purchase by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) of Royal Dutch Shell's controlling interest in a Texas oil refinery, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on...

Read more
22 Dec 2021 13:15

Mexico says U.S. government approves Deer Park refinery deal

MEXICO CITY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has authorized the purchase by Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) of Royal Dutch Shell's controlling interest in a Texas oil refinery, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday.Lo...

Read more
21 Dec 2021 19:06

UPDATE 1-Texas lawsuit by laundromat owners seeks to block Shell refinery sale to Pemex

(Adds U.S. Treasury, CFIUS decline to comment)By Stefanie Eschenbacher and Gary McWilliamsMEXICO CITY/HOUSTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - A pair of New York businessmen filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court seeking to block Mexico's state oil company Petroleos M...

Read more
21 Dec 2021 18:32

Texas lawsuit by laundromat owners seeks to block Shell refinery sale to Pemex

By Stefanie EschenbacherMEXICO CITY/HOUSTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - A pair of New York businessmen filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court seeking to block Mexico's state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) from taking control of a Texas refinery, claimin...

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.