LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY MARKET SUMMARY
AND ANALYSIS (Late Edition) ARCHIVES

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Market Summary and Analysis for Wednesday August 8th. 2001

FTSE 250: 6125.8 = -34.9

FTSE A/S: 2645.8 = -26.6

TechMARK 100: 1570.5 = -18.9

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) closed lower due to share performances across the Atlantic. Gainers included: AEA Technology, Airtours Plc, Alliance & Leicester, Allied Domecq Plc, Alphameric Plc, Amersham Plc, Associated British Foods, Atlantic Telecom, Autonomy Corp, Bank of Scotland, BOC Group Plc, Bookham Technology, BP Amoco Plc, British Biotech Plc, Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Cedar Group Plc, Compass Group Plc, Domino Printing, Dixons Group Plc, Eidos Plc, Filtronic Plc, GUS Plc, IQE Plc, Izodia Plc, Kewill Systems, Medisys Plc, Motion Media Plc, RM Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sage Plc, Scoot.Com, SFI Group Plc, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, Spirent Plc, Telework Systems, Terence Chapman Group Plc, Trafficmaster Plc, TTP Communications, Turbo Genset Plc, and Weston Medical Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• The Bank of England today reduced some of its key economic forecasts.
• Mobile phone operator Orange Plc. lost 1.8% after CS First Boston made known that the Orange will launch commercial General Pocket Radio Service (GPRS) before Christmas, but the popular Nokia GPRS mobile phone will be launched next year.
• BP Amoco gained 1.69% after data shows that US Crude Oil inventory and OPEC plans to cut production will keep oil prices bullish. Crude Oil prices also closed above the $28/barrel mark on the NYMEX today. US Bombing of Iraqi targets also contributed to the problems. Shell closed lower.
• Airtours gained 4.64% after reporting fiscal Q3 pretax profit of £4.2 million, well above the £2 million loss reported last year. Airtours is on track to meet its forecast for the year.
• Computer services company Innovation Group lost 9.36% despite reporting fiscal Q3 pretax profit of £3.7 million, well better than the £527,000 reported last year.
• Industrial gases company BOC Group gained 2.67% after reporting fiscal Q3 pretax profits that rose 3% to £118.9 million, and an 11% increase in pretax profits in the first 9 months of this fiscal year. BOC Group also announced plans to cut 1,500 jobs due to the tough global economic conditions.
• Drug maker Spirent gained 1.17% after winning the European Union approval to market its anti-Cancer drug Depocyte.
• British American Tobacco (BAT) lost 1.78% after announcing that it is spending $82 million to build its first South Korean facility. BAT also announced that the Korean expansion will end up costing about $1.1 billion in the next 10 years.
• Galen Holdings lost 0.33% after reporting fiscal Q3 pretax profits that dropped to £4.67 million, despite a 118% increase in revenue.
• Colt Telecom and Energis Plc. lost after JP Morgan and UBS Warburg downgraded them respectively.
• Izodia gained on the eve of its earnings report. LastMinute.Com closed unchanged, while Reed International lost 3.60%.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• Action across the Atlantic tomorrow will decide how the LSE close tomorrow. Frankly, they don't look encouraging in after hours trading.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

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Market Summary and Analysis for Tuesday August 7th. 2001

FTSE 250: 6160.7 = -28.6

FTSE A/S: 2672.3 = +2.2

TechMARK 100: 1589.4 = -4.8

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) closed higher due to US productivity data. Gainers included: Amersham Plc, Amvescap Plc, Atlantic Telecom, Autonomy Corp, Barclays, BP Amoco Plc, British Biotech Plc, BskyB Plc, CGNU Plc, CMG Plc, Colt Telecom, Compass Group Plc, Diageo Plc, Domino Printing, Euromoney Plc, Filtronic Plc, Galen Holdings, Granada Plc, Lattice Group Plc, Logica Plc, Misys Plc, Ncipher Plc, Orchestream Holdings, Pace Micro Tech, Parity Group Plc, Redstone telecom, Royal Bank of Scotland, Schroders, Schroders NV, Surfcontrol Plc, Thus Plc, United Business Media, and WPP Group Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• Compass Group gained 1.48% after agreeing to pay $170 million in cash for US Healthcare services company Crothall Services Group.
• BP Amoco gained 2.60% after reporting a record fiscal Q2 earnings.
• Anglo American lost 2.32% after reporting first half results that were below expectations due to a glut in Platinum on the market. For the second quarter alone, Platinum prices have dropped 27%.
• British Biotech gained 5.41% after announcing the sale of its pre-clinical operations to OSI Pharmaceuticals of the US for £8.7 million.
• Amersham gained after reporting strong fiscal Q2 earnings.
• BAE Systems and Rolls Royce, both major suppliers to Airbus Industries, closed lower after Airbus confirmed that some customers are delaying orders due to the tough US economy.
• Logica gained 3.35% after reaffirming that it will meet its target set to June 2001.
• Royal Bank of Scotland closed 2.74% higher after reporting interim profits that rose 37%, due mostly from its acquisition of NatWest. Royal Bank of Scotland's earnings were below city estimates, but investors were excited about how itbhas reduced its cost-to-income ratio to 48.1%.
• Software developer Sage lost 3.45% after Morgan Stanley lowered its fiscal 2001 profit outlook on the company.
• Galen Holdings gained 0.33% on the eve of its earnings report, while Airtours and BOC Plc. closed lower.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• Action across the Atlantic tomorrow will decide how the LSE close tomorrow.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

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Market Summary and Analysis for Monday August 6th. 2001

FTSE 100: 5526.4 = -21.2

FTSE 250: 6189.3 = -9.4

FTSE A/S: 2670.1 = -9.2

TechMARK 100: 1594.3 = -10.5

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) closed lower today. Gainers included: Amersham Plc, Atlantic Telecom, BP Amoco Plc, British Airways, British Polythene Plc, Centrica Plc, DBS Management, HSBC Holdings Plc, Inchscape Plc, MMT Computing, Redbus Interhouse, Regus Plc, Scottish & Newcastle, Scoot.Com, and Ultra Electronics Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• Redbus Interhouse gained 0.89% after Telecity confirmed it is in acquisition talks with it. Telecity closed lower.
• HSBC Holdings gained 3.30% after reporting interim pretax profits that rose 9% to £4.2 billion.
• British Airways gained 1.18% despite reporting that its fiscal Q1 profits dropped 48.5%.
• Colt Telecom lost 14.85% despite reporting that its fiscal Q2 earnings rose from £1.6 million to £6.5 million, while turnover rose 46% to £220.3 million.
• British Telecom lost 3.46% after the Sunday Times reported that a German consortium is willing to pay £18 billion for its fixed line business.
• Centrica lost 1.33% after agreeing to acquire HFC Bank.
• Amersham Plc, and BP Amoco gained on the eve of their earnings report, while the Royal Bank of Scotland closed lower.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• Action across the Atlantic tomorrow will decide how the LSE close tomorrow.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

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Market Summary and Analysis for Friday August 3rd. 2001

FTSE 100: 5547.6 = -36.9

FTSE 250: 6198.7 = -2.4

FTSE A/S: 2679.3 = -15.0

TechMARK 100: 1604.8 = -18.3

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) closed the week weaker after rallying for 5 straight days. Gainers included: Abbey National, Axis-Shield, Axon Plc, Bank of Scotland, Barclays Plc, BATM Advanced Communications, Boots Co. Plc, British Telecom, BTG Group Plc, Canary Wharf Plc, Cobham Plc, Country & Metropolitan Plc, Diagonal Plc, Dimension Data, Dixons Group Plc, Domino Printing Plc, Eircom, Fibernet Group Plc, Galen Holdings, Genetix Group Plc, George Wimpey Plc, Halifax Group Plc, Hanson Plc, Innovation Group Plc, Kingfisher Plc, Lattice Group Plc, Legal & General, Lloyds TSB, Macro 4 Plus Plc, Ncipher Plc, Nettec Plc, Next Plc, NSB Retail Systems, Royal Bank of Scotland, Schroders NV, Scipher Plc, Spectris Plc, Staffware Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Telewest Communications Plc, Thus Plc, TTP Communications, Trafficmaster Plc, United Business Media Plc, United Utilities, and Whatman Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• Granada lost 3.6% after Goldman Sachs downgraded it to "market perform".
• United Business Media gained 1.4% after reporting first half revenue that dropped 4.3% to £489.4 million, while pretax profits dropped 48% to £71.7 million.
• Eircom gained 3.3% after its board announced that it will accept the higher bid from Tony O'Reilly led Valentia Consortium.
• Nettec gained 4.2% after reporting first half revenue that rose 22% to £9.4 million, while pretax losses rose to £21.3 million from £2.5 million a year ago.
• McAlpine lost 0.26% despite reporting first half pretax profits that rose 22.6% to £26 million. McAlpine also confirmed that it is in talks with home builder George Wimpey so as to sell its home building unit. George Wimpey closed 2.82% higher.
• Country & Metropolitan gained 2.70% after announcing that it is willing to increase its bid for Tay Homes to 113p/share. Tay Homes closed unchanged at 99.50p/share.
• Standard Chartered Bank gained 1.91% after Goldman Sachs cuts its earnings per share outlook for fiscal 2001 to 46pm a share.
• Electrical parts supplier Laird lost 1.06% after reporting first half pretax profits that dropped almost half to £14.3 million.
• Unilever lost 0.92% despite reporting a 54% increase in first half profits.
• Royal Dutch/Shell lost 3.14% and took Oil shares down with it after JP Morgan downgraded it to "market perform".
• Wolverhampton & Dudley closed lower after rejecting the offer from Pubmaster. Pubmaster also closed lower.
• APOLOGY: We are sorry for reporting the correct market indices yesterday.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• The LSE will most likely perform the same or even better next week.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

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Market Summary and Analysis for Thursday August 2nd. 2001

FTSE 100: 5584.5 = +37.6

FTSE 250: 6201.1 = +60.6

FTSE A/S: 2694.3 = +19.4

TechMARK 100: 1623.1 = +29.4

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) rallied for the fifth day in a row to its highest levels in 4 weeks. Gainers included: Alliance & Leicester, Amersham Plc, Anglo American, Anite Group Plc, Arc International, ARM Holdings, Autonomy Corp, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, Barclays Plc, BATM Advance Communications, BHP Billiton Plc, BOC Group Plc, Bookham Technology, British Airways, British Telecom, Carlton Communications Plc, CGNU Plc, CMG Plc, Colt Telecom Plc, Electrocomponent Plc, Energis Plc, Granada Plc, GuardianIT, Hanson Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc, Innovation Group Plc, Invensys Plc, ITNET Plc, Kewill Systems, Lloyds TSB, Logica Plc, Marlborough Stirling Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, McAlpine Plc, Misys Plc, Northgate Information Solutions, Old Mutual, Orange Plc, Orchestream Holdings, Oxford Biomedical Plc, Parthus Technology, Psion Plc, Reckitt Benckiser, Reed International, Reuters Group Plc, Rio Tinto Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royalblue Group, Royal & Sun Alliance, Sage Group, Schroders, Scipher, Scottish & Southern Energy, Sherwood International, SMG Plc, Smith & Nephew Plc, Spectris Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Telewest Communications Plc, TTP Communications, Unilever Plc, United Business Media Plc, Vodafone Group Plc, and Whatman Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• The Bank of England cut interest rates today by 25 basis points (0.25%) to 5.0%.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) left interest rates unchanged today at 4.50%.
• Future Network lost 21.3% after announcing that talks to acquire it collapsed.
• Arc International gained 11.9% after Goldman Sachs increased its fiscal 2001 earnings estimates to a loss of 7.93p a share. Goldman Sachs expects the company to breakeven in 2004 or 2005.
• McAlpine gained 15.4% on news that home builder George Wimpey is in talks to acquire it. George Wimpey closed lower.
• Kingfisher lost 1.90% after ABN AMRO and Goldman Sachs had negative comments on the company. Goldman Sachs cut its price target to 460p a share, while ABN AMRO cut its rating to a "dull hold". Kingfisher closed at 374p a share.
• Standard Chartered Bank gained 1.91% after Goldman Sachs cuts its earnings per share outlook for fiscal 2001 to 46pm a share.
• Telewest Communications gained 12.1% and led telecoms higher after reporting first half pretax profits of £142.2 million, which beat city estimates.
• Hanson rose 4.2% after reporting only a £2.7 million drop in its first half pretax profits.
• Insurers CGNU and Royal & Sun Alliance rose 2.8% and 2.4% respectively after reporting strong first half profits growth.
• BATM Advanced Communications gained 10.5% after US rival Intel reported that the worst is now behind it.
• Barclays gained 3.9% after reporting first half pretax profits of £1.923 billion, which was in line with city estimates.
• Royal Dutch/Shell pulled oil shares down despite reporting a record fiscal Q2 results. Crude Oil also closed above the $27 a barrel mark.
• Mining giant Rio Tinto gained 1.3% after reporting a record first half pretax profits that rose 19%, while sales rose 16%.
• Smith & Nephew gained 1.1% after reporting a first half turnover that rose to £488.8 million.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• The LSE has a very strong chance to close the week on a high note.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

 

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Market Summary and Analysis for Wednesday August 1st. 2001

FTSE 100: 5546.9 = +17.8

FTSE 250: 6140.5 = +53.3

FTSE A/S: 2674.9 = +11.0

TechMARK 100: 1593.7 = +20.0

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) rallied for the fourth day in a row and started the month strong. Gainers included: Acambis Plc, AEA Technology, Alliance & Leicester, Amersham Plc, Anglo American, Anite Group Plc, Arc International, ARM Holdings, Autonomy Corp, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, BHP Billiton Plc, BOC Group Plc, Bookham Technology, BP Amoco Plc, British Airways, British American Tobacco, British Biotech, Carlton Communications Plc, Colt Telecom Plc, Diageo Plc, Electrocomponent Plc, Future Network Plc, Galen Holdings, Granada Plc, GuardianIT, HSBC Holdings Plc, ICI Plc, Innovation Group Plc, Invensys Plc, IQE Plc, ITNET Plc, Kewill Systems, Logica Plc, Marconi Plc, Marlborough Stirling Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, Northgate Information Solutions, NSB Retail Systems, Old Mutual, Orange Plc, Orchestream Holdings, Oxford Biomedical Plc, Parthus Technology, Psion Plc, Reckitt Benckiser, Reed International, Regus Plc, Reuters Group Plc, Rio Tinto Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royalblue Group, Sage Group, Scipher, Scottish & Southern Energy, Shell Transport & Trading, Sherwood International, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, Spectris Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Telemetrix Plc, Telework Systems Plc, Tesco Plc, TTP Communications, Unilever Plc, United Business Media Plc, and Whatman Plc.

REASONS FOR ACTIVITIES

• Euro Zone Unemployment Rate held steady in June at 8.3%, the 3rd. month in a row.
• Future Network gained 21.35% after announcing that it is in talks that could lead to its acquisition.
• Allied Irish Bank lost 0.33% despite reporting that its first half profits rose 12%.
• Oxford Biomedical gained 11.67% despite reporting that its first half losses rose to £3.6 million from £2.6 seen last year.
• QSP lost 22.81% after giving a warning that due to poor e-commerce software licensing market.
• Arc International gained 3.81% despite reporting that its fiscal Q2 losses increased, but still in line with city estimates. Arc International announced that it is cutting 20% of workforce. When analysts asked about the company's outlook, the CEO stated that is a "darn good time to buy our stock".
• Standard Chartered Bank gained 3.21% after reporting results that beat city estimates. Standard Chartered Bank's bad debts however, rose 26% to $269 million.
• Biopharmaceuticals company Acambis gained 4.46% after announcing the start of phase II trials for its Japanese Encephatis (JE) vaccine.
• Specialty chemical company Elementis lost 7.32% after reporting first half pretax profits that dropped 50% to $15.1 million, due mostly to the weak US economy.
• Kingfisher lost 4.44% after confirming plans to demerge Woolworths and have it trading by August 28th. Separately, Woolworths also warned that cost control and restructuring will affect profits.

PICKS FOR NEXT MARKET DAY

• We think the LSE will likely broaden today's rally tomorrow.

indexbody --> Visit our sister portal to read more on our analysis and summary of the United States .

 

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Market Summary and Analysis for Tuesday July 31st. 2001

FTSE 100: 5529.1 = +82.4

FTSE 250: 6082.2 = +56.0

FTSE A/S: 2661.1 = +33.9

TechMARK 100: 1573.7 = +22.0

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) rallied for the third day in a row and closed the month strong. Gainers included: Abbey National, AEA Technology, Alliance & Leicester, Amersham Plc, Anglo American, Anite Group Plc, Arc International, ARM Holdings, Astrazeneca, Autonomy Corp, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, Baltimore Technology, Bank of Scotland, Barclays Plc, BHP Billiton Plc, Bookham Technology, Boots Co. Plc, BP Amoco Plc, British Airways, British American Tobacco, British Biotech, British Telecom, Carlton Communications Plc, Celltech Group Plc, CMG Plc, Colt Telecom Plc, Computacenter Plc, Diageo Plc, Dixons Group Plc, Electrocomponent Plc, Energis Plc, Fibernet Group Plc, Galen Holdings, George Wimpey Plc, GKN Plc, GlaxoSmithKline, Granada Plc, GuardianIT, Halifax Group Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc, ICI Plc, Innovation Group Plc, Invensys Plc, IQE Plc, ITNET Plc, Jardine Lloyd Thomson Plc, J Sainsbury Plc, Kewill Systems, Lloyds TSB, Logica Plc, London Clubs International, Marconi Plc, Marlborough Stirling Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, Morse Plc, Northgate Information Solutions, Old Mutual, Orchestream Holdings, Pace Micro Tech, Parthus Technology, Psion Plc, Reckitt Benckiser, Redbus Interhouse, Reed International, Regus Plc, Reuters Group Plc, Rio Tinto Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royalblue Group, Sage Group, Schroders, Schroders NV, Scipher, Scottish & Southern Energy, Shell Transport & Trading, Sherwood International, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, Telewest Communications, Telework Systems Plc, Tesco Plc, Vodafone Group Plc, Unilever Plc, United Business