MARKET REPORT
THE FTSE 100 dipped into the red yesterday, as a stronger pound compounded pain from a drop in retail stocks following a string of store closures and profit warnings at some of the UK’s biggest chains.
London’s blue chip index ended the day down 0.3% or 22.3 points at 7,038.97 points, with Kingfisher taking the bottom spot.
The B&Q owner, which slipped 36.1p to 301.6p, was among a series of retailers to release a dismal earnings report, as it detailed a 10% drop in profits and warned the outlook for its UK business was uncertain following a recent hit to sales.
Away from the top tier, Moss Bros plunged more than 23% or 13.6p to 45p after warning profits would be “materially lower” than previously forecast, after suffering stock shortages, low footfall and sluggish demand for suit hire.
Fiona Cincotta, a senior market analyst at City Index, said: “Retailers dominated the lower reaches of the FTSE as harsh winds continue to blow down the UK high street.”
But Miss Cincotta said data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which showed a further rise in employment and a 2.8% rise in average earnings in the year to January - gave hope for some relief on the UK high street.
“UK wages increased in January at a faster rate than prices rose in February, should this pattern continue then as from this month, the consumer should no longer be experiencing a wage drop in real terms.
“This means that spending on non-essential items could be on the cusp of spinning around, which would offer some respite to embattled retailers. Although for some, such as Mothercare, Carpetright this could be too late.”
The wagegrowth data supported the pound which was up 0.5% against the US dollar at 1.407, and 0.3% versus the euro at 1.147.
Across Europe, with the French Cac 40 down more than 0.2% while the German Dax was flat.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Evraz up 14p at 432.3p, Antofagasta up 27.2p at 971.8p, London Stock Exchange Group up 114p at 4,150p, and Anglo American up 34.4p at 1,740p.
The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 yesterday were Kingfisher down 36.1p at 301.6p, WPP down 36p at 1,110p, Associated British Foods down 77p at 2,417p, and Whitbread down 114p at 3,697p.