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 midday: Stocks erase losses but weak earnings limit upside

Thu, 30th Apr 2015 12:02

Uncertainty surrounding US monetary policy and a raft of poorly-received corporate earnings kept the FTSE 100 flat on Thursday morning, with the index fluctuating at its lowest in three weeks.The FTSE 100 was up just 0.09% at 6,952.66 by midday, with RBS, IAG and Schroders limiting upside after disappointing with results, while a number of other blue chips went ex-dividend. Nevertheless, the index did bounce off an intraday low of 6,906.24 reached early on.A 2.2% sell-off over the past two sessions saw the Footsie retreat from Monday's all-time closing high of 7,103.98 to 6,946.28 as of Wednesday's close. This was the lowest finish for the index since 8 April.Wednesday's Federal Reserve policy statement was in focus after officials issued a cautiously optimistic outlook on the economy, saying that the current economic slowdown is only temporary. This followed data showing that annualised US gross domestic product growth slowed to just 0.2% in the first quarter from 2.2% previously.Analysts at Danske Bank reckon that the Fed is still on track to hike rates by 25 basis points in September.However, Barclays said that the statement still left the door open for a rate hike as soon as June: "In our view, the lack of any specific calendar time suggests June will be a 'live' meeting, where rate hike deliberations will begin in more earnest."In economic data on Thursday, Eurozone consumer prices registered zero growth in April compared to a year ago, as expected by analysts. This was an improvement from the 0.1% annual decline seen in March.Meanwhile, Eurozone unemployment was unchanged at 11.3% in March, disappointing analysts who had expected a decline to 11.2%.IAG, RBS and Schroders fallAirline conglomerate IAG underwhelmed despite making its first-ever profit in the first quarter. The company beat expectations with an operating profit of €25m, compared with a €150m loss the year before.Royal Bank of Scotland made a £446m loss in the first quarter of the year, more than double what had been feared as it was hit by £453m of restructuring costs and set aside £856m for litigation and conduct charges.Financial services giant Schroders also fell as profits for the first quarter missed forecasts. The company did however beat estimates with a 6.5% increase in assets under management to £319.5bn.Royal Dutch Shell revealed a 56% drop in first-quarter earnings to $3.25bn but that wasn't as bad as the $2.5bn expected, helping the stock higher. Shell also shaved its capital investment budget for 2015 by $2bn to "$33bn or less".Medical services group Smith & Nephew edged higher as it reported a slight increase in first quarter revenue and reiterated its expectations for 2015.Shares in RPS Group dropped sharply after the industrial consultancy outfit said the continuing volatility in the oil and gas sector meant its energy business had a slower-than-expected start to the year.Zoopla, the residential property website group, soared after agreeing to acquire utility price comparison site uSwitch for up to £190m.A number of stocks were trading lower after going ex-dividend, including Centrica, Fresnillo, ITV, Reed Elsevier and Travis Perkins. Market MoverstechMARK 3,186.47 -0.02%FTSE 100 6,952.66 +0.09%FTSE 250 17,476.74 -0.03%FTSE 100 - RisersRoyal Mail (RMG) 466.60p +5.04%Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,861.00p +2.51%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 473.00p +1.48%Shire Plc (SHP) 5,360.00p +1.32%Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,095.00p +1.26%Persimmon (PSN) 1,703.00p +1.25%Barratt Developments (BDEV) 518.00p +1.17%Sports Direct International (SPD) 611.00p +1.08%St James's Place (STJ) 887.00p +1.03%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 3,204.00p +1.01%FTSE 100 - FallersITV (ITV) 251.10p -4.71%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 333.70p -4.52%Centrica (CNA) 256.60p -4.11%Anglo American (AAL) 1,103.50p -3.07%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 544.50p -2.59%Fresnillo (FRES) 724.50p -1.96%Meggitt (MGGT) 526.50p -1.59%Antofagasta (ANTO) 772.00p -1.53%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 187.70p -1.52%Reed Elsevier (REL) 1,073.00p -1.47%FTSE 250 - RisersZoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 209.80p +13.41%NMC Health (NMC) 743.00p +4.57%TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 367.40p +3.52%Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 82.25p +2.36%Premier Oil (PMO) 178.40p +2.29%Countrywide (CWD) 525.50p +2.24%Cairn Energy (CNE) 182.40p +2.18%UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 539.00p +2.08%Greencore Group (GNC) 355.40p +1.98%Galliford Try (GFRD) 1,497.00p +1.84%FTSE 250 - FallersOphir Energy (OPHR) 144.00p -11.06%RPS Group (RPS) 214.20p -9.28%Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,196.00p -8.21%Berendsen (BRSN) 1,039.00p -4.59%Vedanta Resources (VED) 614.00p -2.92%Rexam (REX) 568.00p -2.66%Polymetal International (POLY) 524.50p -2.51%Cobham (COB) 294.80p -2.51%William Hill (WMH) 357.50p -2.51%National Express Group (NEX) 286.80p -2.45%
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.