RAMSEY CROOKALL & CO
28th November 2012
Evening Report
The FTSE 100 ends up 0.1% at 5803.28, clawing back ground late in the session after US
House Speaker John Boehner expressed optimism that a budget deal can be reached. This
helped to offset earlier worries that Congressional negotiations had reached an impasse,
after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said late Tuesday that budget talks were going
nowhere. Bunzl drops 4.0% following a downbeat broker note, but United Utilities gains
2.6% following 1H results. Tomorrow, in the US, initial jobless claims are at 13:30 ,
along with the final reading of 3Q GDP.
BP has agreed to sell its interests in a number of U.K. oil and gas fields to Abu Dhabi
National Energy Co. (TAQA.AD), known as Taqa, for $1.06 billion, plus future payments
the company said could exceed $250 million.
Smith & Nephew announced that it will buy U.S. wound care business Healthpoint Bio-
therapeutics for $782 million in cash, boosting the U.K. medical technology company's
U.S. presence and providing first access to the lucrative bioactive wound healing market.
Retailer Marks & Spencer Group has reached agreement with its Pension Scheme Trustees
on a 10 year funding plan, which includes annual cash contributions of GBP28 million
per annum from 2013/14 to 2016/17, a reduction on the previously agreed GBP60 million
per annum until 2017/18.
Water supplier United Utilities Group reported a rise in pretax profit for the six months
ended Sept. 30 and said it is on track to meet its regulatory targets.
Holiday firm Thomas Cook Group reported a widened fiscal 2012 pretax loss and cut its
dividend after making a number of charges, including 110 million pounds in higher fuel
costs, but reported a good start to winter trading in the new financial year.
THE FTSE 100 Closed Up 3 @ 5803
THE DOW JONES @ 17:00 Up 16 @ 12894
THE NASDAQ @ 17:00 Down 1 @ 2966
Exchange Rates
GBP – USD @ 17:00 1.5994
GBP - EURO @ 17:00 1.2375
Gold USD/Oz $1,717
Researching your Manx family history can be a very interesting and rewarding hobby. Trace your roots in the Isle of Man with our helpful of guide.
