Editor's Picks
US close: Stocks higher despite more hawkish Fed minutes
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
US stocks on average finished in positive territory on Wednesday despite minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting showing an interest rate may come sooner than expected, although it is not likely to be until February or March next year.
FTSE 250 movers: Kazakhmys hit by production outlook
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Kazakh metal miner Kazakhmys hailed progress with a shake-up designed to focus it on the lucrative copper market, but said 2014 gold production was likely to fall short of hopes, pushing the stock into the red.
Gross mortgage lending reaches record £19.1bn in July, CML says
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said on Wednesday the gross mortgage lending reached £19.1bn in July this year, the highest monthly figure since August 2008, when it reached £19.3bn.
Ferguson returns to relative calm after violence
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Ferguson, the riot-strewn town in the US state of Missouri, returned to relative calm last night, as police officers were able to disperse the crown without using tear gas for the first time in four days.
Fed takes another step towards raising rates, minutes show
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
The release of minutes from the US Federal Open Market Committee showed that it, like its UK counterparts who also released minutes on Wednesday, was more hawkish than expected.
UK self-employment at its highest in 40 years, ONS says
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Wednesday there were 4.6m people self-employed in the UK in 2014, the highest over the past 40 years, which represents 15% of the workforce.
Carillion drops pursuit of Balfour Beatty after third attempt runs foul
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Construction firm Carillion has officially pulled out of the running for a merger with rival Balfour Beatty after yet another rejection by the infrastructure specialist on Wednesday.
Broker tips: Glencore, Kazakhmys, WH Smith
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
UBS has upped its target price for mining and commodities trading giant Glencore from 330p to 350p after an "encouraging" roundtable meeting with management.
FTSE 250 movers: Ex-divi stocks and Balfour lead index lower
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Berkeley Group, Fidessa Group and Taylor Wimpey all dropped into the red after going ex-dividend on Wednesday.
US pre-open: Stock futures flat, markets pause ahead of FOMC minutes
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
US stocks were expected to open flat on Wednesday as nervousness ahead of the minutes from the latest Federal Reserve prompted investors to sit on their hands after the recent rally.
London close: FTSE drops on BoE minutes, ex-divis, Fed minutes
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
London's blue chips dropped into the red on Wednesday, hit by a combination of Bank of England (BoE) minutes, ex-dividends, and a degree of profit taking.
Broker tips: BHP Billiton, StanChart, Balfour Beatty, Debenhams
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Credit Suisse said it sees a "lack of upside" at BHP Billiton after the company underwhelmed the market with its demerger plans, downgrading the mining stock from 'neutral' to 'underperform'.
Carlsberg slumps after cutting its full-year earnings forecast
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Carlsberg cut its outlook for the second half of the year after performing badly at the first half due to tensions in Eastern Europe.
German minister accuses Qatar of financing IS
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
A German government minister has accused Qatar of financing the jihadist terror group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (Isis)
RBS settles US copyright lawsuit over trading software
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has settled a copyright lawsuit in the US over its use of an important piece of software in its trade finance business, the lender said on Wednesday.
London midday: UK stocks retreat on rate-hike uncertainty
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
UK equities retreated from a three-week high on Wednesday as investors took profits after five straight days of gains, with ex-dividend stocks providing a drag on the market.
Market overview: Don't rule out a 2014 rate hike, says economist
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
1015: Following the surprise 7-2 vote at the MPC - the first split vote on rates since July 2011 - Capital Economics senior UK economist Samuel Tombs has said that "it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of a 2014 rate hike". Barclays Research said yesterday that they still expected a rate hike in the fourth quarter of this year despite yesterday's data showing a dip in inflation.
StanChart confirms US fine and compliance monitoring extension
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
UK bank Standard Chartered has been fined $300m (£181m) by US regulators and will need to enhance surveillance of its transactions as well as face an extension to current compliance monitoring.
MPC round-up: Economists see 2015 hike in Bank Rate as most likely
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
While the 7-2 vote was more hawkish than expected,
MPC surprise: two members voted in favour of rate hike -UPDATE
Wednesday 20 Aug 2014
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 in favour of keeping rates unchanged at its last meeting.
You are here: news > editors picks
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN