MARKET REPORT

THE pound slid yesterday as investors worried about the prospects of a swift Brexit trade deal after EU leaders suggested the second phase of negations would be even “tougher” than the first.

Sterling was down nearly 0.9% against the US dollar to trade at 1.331 and was hovering near two-and-ahalf week lows versus the euro at 1.130.

The FTSE 100, meanwhile, ended the day up 0.57%, or 42.45 points, at 7,490.57 while the French Cac 40 fell 0.15% and the German Dax rose 0.27%.

In UK stocks, Unilever’s Londonlisted shares ended the day up 1.35%, or 56p, to 4,196p after the consumer goods giant confirmed it had struck a €6.8bn (£6bn) deal to sell its underperforming spreads business to private equity firm KKR.

Persimmon fell 26p to 2,626p after announcing that chairman Nicholas Wrigley intends to resign following concerns over excessive executive pay at the firm.

Sky rose 28p at 1,018p while BT shares ended the day up 3.7p at 277.55p after the rival broadcasters announced a deal to sell their channels on each others’ platforms.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 yesterday were Sky up 28p at 1,018p,

WPP up 35p at 1,389p, Mondi up 43p at 1,818p and Fresnillo up 31p at 1,336p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were NMC Health down 68p to 2,800p, Next down 99p to 4,246p,

Mediclinic International down 12.5p at 609p and Marks and Spencer Group down 5.5p at 303.8p.