Financial News

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) - U.S. stock futures are pointing to a higher open Friday after November nonfarm payrolls grew at the best rate since July, giving investors incentive to extend the prior session's sharp rally. Dow futures were up 19 points at 10,938, Nasdaq 100 futures rose 3.5 points to 1,707.50 while S&P 500 futures rose 2.90 points to 1,267.50. "Coming in right on expectations is ...

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures are pointing to a slightly higher open Friday after a November employment report that showed solid job growth, but left investors with no reason to fear the economy was overheating.   MARKETWATCH TOP NEWS Dollar higher ahead of nonfarm payrolls figures Imported auto parts make deep advance in U.S. XL CEO O'Hara under pressur ...

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock futures rallied Friday, as data showing that November jobs growth was the strongest since July gave investors incentive to extend the prior session's sharp rally. EARNINGSWATCH Stock market futures get a boost after jobs data Principal Financial Group sees $45M in capital losses in '06 Nonfarm payrolls, Ford, Tribune in focus Noven Pharma shares halted ahea ...

By Tom Burroughes LONDON (Reuters) - A proposed national savings plan could accelerate fund management company mergers and hit firms left outside the system, say industry executives. A landmark report on the country's pensions regime published this week by the government-appointed Pension Commission recommended a low-cost National Pensions Savings Scheme (NPSS) to ensure all Britons save for ret ...

By Steve Slater LONDON (Reuters) - Cost-cutting by bank Alliance & Leicester (AL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) will drive its 2005 profit above the consensus of analysts' forecasts, as it benefits from more customers switching to Internet banking, it said on Friday. Shares in Alliance & Leicester (A&L) rose after it said its core 2005 operating profit was likely to be ahead of the current consensus forecast of 506 million pounds. By 1050 GMT A&L shares were up 2.6 percent at 923 pence, one of ...

The Kurdish regional government’s surprise announcement that it had begun drilling for oil in the north of Iraq sparked alarm yesterday, two weeks ahead of national elections. // Iraqi politicians questioned the invocation of a disputed constitutional clause suggesting regional governments had the right to enter independently into contracts to develop new fields. The KRG announced on Tuesday that Norway’s DNO company had begun drilling the Tawke well in the province of Dohuk near the Turkish bo ...

Jim Armitage, Evening Standard2 December 2005 SPIRIT, which is being taken over for £2.7bn by Punch Taverns, faces criminal and civil action over the potentially illegal screening of Premier League football matches at some 60 of its bars. WANT TO KNOW MORE? READER OFFER: Trade shares OTHER STORIES Lenders to share customer data House prices on the up Market report: Friday prev ...

Geoff Foster, Daily Mail2 December 2005 ANY City veteran will tell you that Pilkington has a special place in the history of UK takeovers. Almost 20 years ago the world's largest glass manufacturer staved off a hostile bid from BTR - thanks to its then major shareholder Standard Life. OTHER STORIES Market report: Friday preview Investors queue to check into De Vere A question of eth ...

Shares in budget airline easyJet hit a 21-month high on Thursday in what was a good first day at the office for new chief executive Andrew Harrison. // EasyJet rose 3.7 per cent to 342¼p as Citigroup raised its price target on the stock from 280p to 400p saying the arrival of Mr Harrison, who succeeds Ray Webster, would usher in a new phase of development that was more focused on shareholder valu ...

By Keiron Henderson LONDON (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 index closed 1.2 percent higher on Thursday as oil shares ran ahead after an unexpectedly steep drop in U.S. crude stockpiles, and banks gained after a reassuring trading statement from HSBC . Insurer Royal & Sun Alliance was a FTSE frontrunner, rising 3.5 percent to 117-1/2 pence on talk that it might be the latest company to be snapped up in a recent wave of bids for British assets. Traders could give no specifics of potential bidders, but  ...