U.K. stocks turn red: Top Volume stocks and Best Price achievers today – (VOD, LLOY, EMG, BLNX, LGO)

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Britain’s top shares moved down today for the first time in four days as traders weighed the possible cost of Hurricane Sandy on insurers and the U.S. economy. Volumes were low and insurers suffered the most; energy stocks hurt by a fall in crude prices as the storm caused refineries in the region close. Airline stocks declined on concerns over flight troubles.

Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD) is up today after its Australian arm, Vodafone Hutchison Australia, unveiled today a plan to reduce as much as 500 jobs out of a workforce of 5,000 as part of a restructuring plan as it is facing declining market share. The country’s third-ranked mobile phone company, which is a 50:50 joint venture between Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L) and Hutchison (HTA.AX) 3G Australia, serves 6.8 million customers and operates brands such as Vodafone, 3 and Crazy John’s.

Paul Budde, analyst with Independent telecoms recently released a report saying that Vodafone has shown a double-digit decline in revenues this year, while strong competitors Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) and Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI) unit Optus have shown revenue rise of about 1 percent.

On the flip side, the most active Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LON:LLOY) is down today after it has introduced a scheme that will scrap all benefits associated with product sales as the big four banks’ combined bill for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) reaches £10 billion. The Financial Times reported that Lloyds’ decision to release a new plan that puts back product-related targets with metrics that reward customer service tracks the Financial Services Authority (FSA)’s recent crackdown on sales incentives.

Man Group Plc (LON:EMG) is under pressure today after a report that Odey Asset Management, an investment firm founded by Crispin Odey, acquired a 5 percent ownership in Man Group (EMG) in a deal valued at £75 million. Reports hit the market that Crispin Odey will keep purchasing more in Man Group, and he will finally form a group to submit a proposal to takeover complete control of the struggling  hedge fund giant.

Blinkx Plc (LON:BLNX) is one of the top price hitter and the most popular stock today, followed by LENI GAS & OIL PLC (LON:LGO).


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