BusinessJeeves United Kingdom (UK): London Stock Exchange (LSE) Analysis and Commentaries Archives

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) FTSE 100 and the TechMARK 100 gained for the third time this week. Gainers included: Acambis Plc, AIT Group Plc, Amersham Plc, Amvescap Plc, Anglo American Plc, Arc International Plc, ARM Holdings Plc, Associated British Foods Plc, Astrazeneca Plc, Autonomy Corp, Azlan Group Plc, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, Baltimore Technology, Biocompatibles Plc, Bookham Technology, BOC Group Plc, Boots Co. Plc, BP Amoco Plc, Brambles Industries, British Airways Plc, British American Tobacco Plc, British Land Co. Plc, BskyB Plc, BT Group Plc, Cable & Wireless Plc, Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Cambridge Antibody, Canary Wharf Group Plc, Capita Group Plc, Carillion Plc, Celltech Group Plc, Centrica Plc, CMG Plc, Compass Group Plc, Computacenter Plc, Croda International Plc, Daily Mail & General Trust Plc, Diageo Plc, Diagonal Plc, Dixons Group Plc, Domino Printing Plc, Easynet Group Plc, Eidos Plc, Elan Corp, Enterprise Oil Plc, Eyretel Plc, Fibernet Group Plc, First Technology Plc, Galen Holdings Plc, Gallaher Group Plc, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Granada Plc, GuardianIT Plc, GUS Plc, Hanson Plc, Hilton Group Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc, Iceland Group Plc, ICI Plc, ICI NP, Imagination Technology, Invensys Plc, International Power, ITNet Plc, Kingston Communications, Land Securities Plc, Logica Plc, Man Group Plc, Marlborough Sterling Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, Medisys Plc, Misys Plc, MmO2 Plc, Morse Plc, Morrison Supermarket Plc, Motion Media Plc, National Grid Plc, Next Plc, Parthus Technology Plc, Pearson Plc, Persimmon Plc, Powergen Plc, Project Telecom Plc, Reuters Group Plc, Rio Tinto Plc, Rolls Royce Plc, SA Breweries Plc, Sage group Plc, Safeway Plc, Schroders Plc, Schroders NV, Scipher Plc, Scottish & Newcastle Plc, Scottish Power Plc, Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, Shell Transport & Trading Plc, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc, Smith & Nephew Plc, Smiths Group Plc, Spectris Plc, Spirent Plc, Telemetrix Plc, Telewest Communications Plc, Tesco Plc, Torotrak Plc, Turbo Genset Plc, Unilever Plc, Vernalis Group Plc, Vodafone Group Plc, Wilson Bowden Plc, Wolseley Plc, WPP Group Plc, and Xansa Plc.

Shares closed higher after US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan stated in a congressional hearing that he is confident the US economy is on its way to a recovery, but he expects a moderate recovery pace.
Drug and oil shares gained.
Allied Domecq lost 2.92% after announcing a 39 million share placement so as to raise £152 million to finance its assets acquisitions from Diageo. Diageo closed higher.
Smith & Nephew gained 2.78% after announcing that its Endoscopy division has completed an assets purchase agreement with US based arthroscopy company, Instrument Makar, inc.
Insurer CGNU lost 10.04% and took the sector down after announcing that it will cut its dividend by as much as 40%, as it tries to shore up its funds.
Telecommunications shares rallied for the second day in a row.
CMG gained 8.93% after stating that its wireless data division will see some strong sales growth in 2002.
HBOS lost 8.07% and took banking shares lower after announcing that it is placing £1.4 billion worth of shares.
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Croda International gained 12.86% after reporting fiscal 2001 pretax profit of £31.8 million, £3.9 million less than a year ago. Croda also announced that 2002 have already started strong.
George Wimpey gained 9.26% and pushed home builders higher after reporting 2001 pretax profit that rose 24% to £181 million, on turnover of £1.9 billion. George Wimpey also stated that the housing market is still strong, but expects some price moderation soon.
Regus lost 10.94% after reporting 2001 pretax loss of £19 million, as opposed to last year's profit of £12.4 million. Regus also took a £90.5 million restructuring charge, and also announced that its US operations are improving.
Rolls Royce gained 6.43% after the opening of Singapore Aero Engine Services Limited (SAESL), its joint venture with Singaporean and Hong Kong companies to service and overhaul its Trent Jet Engines for Asia-Pacific customers.
Hilton Group, Iceland Group, and Shire Pharmaceuticals gained on the eve of their earnings reports, while Legal & General and the Royal Bank of Scotland closed lower.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) FTSE 100 and the TechMARK 100 gained again today. Gainers included: 3i Group Plc, Acambis Plc, AEA Technology Plc, Alphameric Plc, Alterian Plc, Amersham Plc, Amstrad Plc, Amvescap Plc, Anglo American Plc, Anite Group Plc, Antisoma Plc, Arc International Plc, Argonaut Games Plc, ARM Holdings Plc, Astrazeneca Plc, Autonomy Corp, Baltimore Technology, Bookham Technology, BP Amoco Plc, BskyB Plc, Business Systems Plc, Cable & Wireless Plc, Carlton Communications, Colt Telecom Group Plc, Computacenter Plc, Cookson Group Plc, Daily Mail & General Trust Plc, Diagonal Plc, Dicom Group Plc, Dmatek Ltd, Easynet Group Plc, Enterprise Oil Plc, Fibernet Group Plc, Filtronic Plc, Galen Holdings Plc, Genetix Group Plc, Granada Plc, Guardian IT Plc, Gyrus Group Plc, Hays Plc, Hilton Group Plc, Horizon Technology Group Plc, Imagination Technology, Indigovision Group, Innovation Group Plc, Intec Telecom Plc, Interx Plc, ITouch Plc, Jasmin Plc, Kewill Systems Plc, Kidde Plc, Kingston Communications, Marconi Plc, Marlborough Sterling, Misys Plc, ML Labs Plc, MmO2 Plc, Morse Plc, Motion Media Plc, Northern Rock Plc, Orchestream Holdings, Oxford Biomedical, Pace Micro Tech, Parthus Tech, Patsystems Plc, Pearson Plc, Planitt Holdings Plc, Project Telecom Plc, Psion Plc, Redbus Interhouse Plc, Retail Decisions Plc, Reuters Group Plc, Riversoft Plc, Schroders Plc, Schroders NV, Scipher Plc, SDL Plc, Shell Transports & Trading Plc, Sherwood International Plc, Smartlogik Group Plc, Staffware Plc, Superscape Plc, Telecity Plc, Telemetrix Plc, Torex Plc, Total Systems Plc, Triad Group Plc, Ultrasis Plc, Vega Group Plc, Vislink Plc, Vodafone Group Plc, Whatman Plc, Wolseley Plc, WPP Group Plc, Xaar Plc, Xansa Plc, Xenova Group Plc, XTL Bipharmaceuticals Plc.

Cookson Group gained 6.16% after stating that it has seen the worst in its business.
BT Group lost 0.57% after announcing that it will cut its high speed Broadband internet access charges by as much as 43% to £14.75/month, so as to increase its subscriber rate up to One Million by summer of next year.
Pearson gained 6.47% and lifted media shares after Morgan Stanley upgraded it to a "market outperform".
Oil shares gained for the third day in a row.
Telecommunications shares finally gained, but traditionally defensive shares like food retailers, drinks, tobacco, and utilities closed lower.
Prudential lost 0.82% after reporting 2001 profits that rose 15%. Investors were however, concerned with the drop in US earnings, and the company's plan to take a £74 million charge relating to its US operations.
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British American Tobacco (BAT) lost 0.46% and took tobacco shares lower after reporting 2001 pretax profits that rose to £2.07 billion, thanks to its Lucky Strike brand, which saw a sales growth of over 10%. On the downside, BAT lowered its 2002 growth estimates to around 2% to 3%, but expects a resumption in 2003.
Insurer Jardine Lloyd Thomson lost 2.97% and took insurers lower after reporting 2001 pretax profit that rose 18% to £84.3 million, while turnover rose 22% to £349.7 million. Jardine Lloyd expects the future to be even better, investors were however, concerned about the eroding margin.
Amersham gained 6.02% after reporting 2001 pretax profit that rose 9% to £279.4 million, while turnover rose 13% to £1.6 billion. Amersham also gave a strong outlook.
CMG lost 8.10% on the eve of its earnings report.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) FTSE 100 and the TechMARK 100 gained today. Gainers included: 3i Group Plc, Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Anglo American Plc, Anite Group Plc, Arc International Plc, ARM Holdings, Azlan Group Plc, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, Baltimore Technology, Bank of Ireland, Barclays Plc, BG Group Plc, BP Amoco Plc, Bradford & Bingley Plc, Brambles Industries Plc, British Airways Plc, British Biotech Plc, BskyB Plc, BT Group Plc, Cable & Wireless Plc, Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Capita Group Plc, Celltech Group Plc, Centrica Plc, Chorion Plc, Colt Telecom Group Plc, Communisis Plc, Daily Mail & General Trust Plc, Diageo Plc, Domino's Pizza, Egg Plc, Eidos Plc, Energis Plc, Enterprise Oil Plc, Fibernet Group Plc, Friends Ivory Plc, Friends Provident Plc, Galen Holdings Plc, Genemedix Plc, George Wimpey Plc, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Go-Ahead Group Plc, Granada Plc, Groupe Chez Gerard, GuardianIT Plc, GUS Plc, GW Pharmaceuticals Plc, Hanson Plc, Hays Plc, Innovation Group Plc, Invensys Plc, International Power Plc, ITNet Plc, Jardine Lloyd Thomson Plc, Jasmin Plc, J Sainsbury Plc, Kingfisher Plc, Kingston Communications Plc, Lawrence Plc, Leeds United FC Plc, Lloyds TSB Plc, Man Group Plc, Marconi Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, Marlborough Sterling Plc, McCarthy & Stone Plc, Medisys Plc, Misys Plc, Morrison Supermarkets Plc, Motion Media Plc, Northern Rock Plc, Pace Micro Tech Plc, Pearson Plc, Pendragon Plc, Pipehawk Plc, Prudential Plc, Reed International, Reuters Group Plc, Royal & Sun Alliance Plc, Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, Schroders NV, Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, Scottish Power Plc, Shell Transport & Trading, Smiths Group Plc, Spirent Plc, Thus Plc, Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc, Vianet Group Plc, Weir Group Plc, Whittards & Chelsea Plc, Wolseley Plc, Workspace Group Plc, WPP Group Plc.

Granada gained and helped media shares to close higher after Goldman Sachs upgraded it to "market perform", while Lehman Brothers included it in its "European Recommended List". Media shares also gained after Deutsche Bank upgraded the sector to an "overweight".
Pearson gained 4.69% after announcing that there is interest in acquiring its FT Business™ UK financial publisher.
Oil shares and prices gained on continued uncertainty in the Middle East.
Cable & Wireless gained 4.83% after the Independent on Sunday reported that shareholders want the company to return back to them £500 million.
Telecommunications shares weren't hot today after US based Williams Communications Group made known that it is considering bankruptcy.
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Energis gained 29.67% after making known that it has received acquisition offers for some of its units.
Innogy Holdings closed lower as its takeover rumours die down.
Vodafone Group lost 2.13% after The Financial Times reported that 2 US based telecommunications companies might write off £42 billion in goodwill (see Williams Communications above).
Bradford & Bingley gained 1.75% and lifted banking shares after the Sunday Observer reported that Bradford & Bingley might receive a takeover bid.
Leeds United FC gained 16.13% after the Sunday Telegraph reported that, the problems surrounding the club might prompt chairman Peter Ridsdale to lead a management buyout team and acquire the club.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) FTSE 100 and the TechMARK 100 closed lower. Gainers included: AEA Technology, Alliance & Leicester Plc, Allied Domecq, Anglo American Plc, Anite Group Plc, Arc International Plc, Astrazeneca Plc, BG Group Plc, BHP Billiton Plc, BOC Group Plc, Boots Co. Plc, BP Amoco Plc, British American Tobacco Plc, BT Group Plc, Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Celltech Group Plc, Compass Group Plc, Emblaze Systems Plc, Enterprise Oil Plc, Gallaher Group Plc, Gyrus Group Plc, Hanson Plc, Imperial Tobacco Plc, ITouch Plc, Kidde Plc, KS Biomedix Plc, Lloyds TSB Plc, London Stock Exchange Plc, Marks & Spencer Plc, Morse Plc, Powergen Plc, Reckitt Benckiser Plc, Reed International, Rio Tinto Plc, SA Breweries Plc, Safeway Plc, Securicor Plc, Severn Trent Plc, Shell Transport & Trading, Smith & Nephew Plc, Spectris Plc, Telemetrix Plc, Tesco Plc, Turbo Genset Plc, Unilever Plc, and Wolseley Plc.

Defensive shares like tobacco and drinks gained.
Smith & Nephew gained 3.12% on a CS First Boston upgrade.
Express Dairies lost 28.42% after announcing that its takeover talks have ended.
Cadbury Schweppes gained 0.50% after announcing that it is acquiring fruit beverage Squirt™ in Mexico, the second largest soft drinks market in the world, from Refremex AG.
Alliance & Leicester gained 1.68% and helped banking shares to close higher after reporting 2001 profit of £396 million, and raised its dividend by 10%. Alliance & Leicester gained on rumours.
Go-Ahead Group lost 5.96% after reporting first half profit that rose 12% to £12.3 million, as turnover rose 52%.
Oil shares closed higher today too.
Visit our Up to the minute market charts covering commodities, derivatives, foreign exchange, futures, interest rates, and global stock markets for the closing numbers worldwide.
Securicor gained 0.20% after winning a £200 million outsourcing contract from Alliance & Leicester.
International Power lost 1.25% despite announcing that it has secured £437 million in financing for its 1,600 Mega Watts Australian power plant.
Energis lost a further 25% today after Standard & Poor's downgraded its debts to "CCC-Minus".
Colt Telecom lost 15.91% due to concerns about its debts, especially after announcing 500 job cuts yesterday.
GlaxoSmithKline lost 1.59% after German authorities asked European Union regulators to investigate the safety of GlaxoSmithKline's stop smoking medication, Zyban™.
Vodafone Group lost 1.90% and took mobile phone related shares lower after Goldman Sachs cut its price target on the shares.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) FTSE 100 closed higher, while the TechMARK 100 closed lower again. Gainers included: AIT Group Plc, Alliance & Leicester Plc, Allied Domecq, Amvescap Plc, Associated British Foods, Autonomy Corp, Axis-Shield Plc, BAA Plc, BAE Systems Plc, Balfour Beatty Plc, Barclays Plc, Biocompatibles Plc, BOC Group Plc, Boots Co. Plc, BP Amoco Plc, British Airways Plc, British American Tobacco, British Biotech Plc, British Land Co. Plc, BT Group Plc, Cable & Wireless Plc, Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Cambridge Antibody, Canary Wharf Plc, Celltech Group Plc, CGNU Plc, Computaceneter Plc, Diageo Plc, Diagonal Plc, Dixons Group Plc, Eidos Plc, Elan Corp, Electrocomponent

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

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