FTSE

ASOS, the online fashion retailer has posted strong '09 results ahead of forecasts as the Danish supplier, Bestseller, builds up a stake in the company - and margins improve.

Sir Philip Clarke who started working for Tesco's as a schoolboy, was announced today as its new CEO from March next year.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 despite attempts by policy makers to ease fears about sovereign debt in the eurozone.

Shares in British banks were a mixed bag in afternoon trading as investors showed concern at the weakness of the economic recovery in the USA and fresh fears about sovereign debt in Hungary came to bear.

Synergy Health which provides a range of outsourced services to the NHS delivered a rise in EPS ahead of expectation yesterday.

The FTSE 100 rose in morning trading on Friday thanks to gains by BP after the energy giant succeeded in putting a containment cap on the source of an oil leak which has been described as the greatest ecological disaster to face the USA in its history.

Intermediate Capital Group are rising on the FTSE following their full year results after capital gains came in higher than predicted.

Jupiter Asset Management, the UK's best known fund manager is planning an IPO on Monday week, which it hopes will stabilise and reestablish the company as a FTSE 250 firm worth £718 million.

Shares in British banks rose on the FTSE 100 after a few days of losses caused by fears about the state of the eurozone.

Shares in chemicals company Johnson Matthey rose on the FTSE 100 after the group said it is confident of its future prospects despite reporting a drop in pre-tax profit of five per cent in the year ended 31 March.

Kingfisher, the DIY retailer, posted today improving margins in Q1 on a cost savings programme and store downsize in China.

Shares in Kingfisher rose over two per cent on the FTSE 100 after the company reported a rise in profit of 12 per cent in the 13 week period ended 1 May 2010.

Mortgage approvals rose in April whilst net mortgage lending remained down as the Bank of England released its latest set of data Wednesday.

Shares in British banks continued to decline on the FTSE 100 thanks to ongoing concerns over sovereign debt in the eurozone.

Northumbrian Water, has posted a full year profit up 11.5 pct for 2009/10 as profit before tax increased to £170.2m.

Strike action at British Airways enters its fourth day today as talks with conciliation service Acas ended Tuesday night with no further progress made.

Prudential's £35.5bn AIG deal appears on the verge of collapse as shareholders rebellion continues.

BP, which makes up one of the largest consitutents of the FTSE 100 share index, is down 17 per cent today after failing to stop the oil leak - its lowest price since March 2009.

Shares in British banks fell on the FTSE 100 in morning trading on Monday after yet more bad news from the eurozone gave investors the jitters.

Northern Foods, the makers of Fox biscuits and Goodfellas Pizzas profits fell 28 pct last year, despite the company trading 'solidly'.

Shares in Travis Perkins were up nearly seven per cent on the FTSE 250 after the group said that it had made an offer for plumbing and heating company BSS Group, valuing the company at 433 pence per share, or £553 million.

Severn Trent has risen after full year profits at the group rose to £338.5m. The utilities group said that profits rose after efficiency savings were introduced - as revenue increased just 4 pct on inflation.

Shares in Forth Ports sank over 11 per cent on the FTSE 250 today after it said that a consortium made up of Arcus Infrastructure Fund, Peel Holdings Limited and RREEF Infrastructure, would not be putting in a takeover bid for the company.

Shares in British banks rose for the third day in a row after significant falls last week and at the beginning of the week thanks to continuing fears about sovereign debt in the eurozone and the possibility of conflict between North and South Korea.

Prudential shares, up 6.83 pct from yesterday have fallen 2.10 pct this morning as they confirmed talks with AIG to renegotiate the deal.

Prudential shares have risen on the FTSE 100 today amid news that the insurance company's bid for AIA may fall through.

Shares in British banks continued their recovery on the FTSE 100 after ongoing worries about sovereign debt in the eurozone helped drag shares in recent weeks.

Tate & Lyle have announced their full year results today. The food manufacturer reported a decline in sales, 1 pct lower year-on-year and an operating profit of £298m in line with expectations.

Shares in Tate & Lyle were down on the FTSE 250 after the company reported a drop in pre-tax profits of seven per cent in the full year ended 31 March.

Shares in British banks recovered in morning trading on the FTSE 100 following a dismal performance yesterday which saw the FTSE 100 drop below 5,000.