Western Mail

MARKET REPORT

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sion.barry@walesonlin­e.co.uk LONDON'S blue chip index was under pressure yesterday as sterling climbed on hopes of positive data on UK employment.

The FTSE 100 ended the day 66.36 points lower, closing down 0.91% at 7,198.2.

The pound was up 0.61% against the dollar at 1.432. Against the euro, the pound was up 0.44% to 1.157.

UK unemployme­nt is expected to remain constant at 4.3% in data published today, but average earnings are forecast to rise to 3% in the three months to February, meaning wage growth could overtake inflation for the first time in over a year.

In UK stocks, traders sold off WPP's stock in the wake of the resignatio­n of long-standing chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell.

Sir Martin, who was the boss of the advertisin­g giant for more than 30 years, stepped down over the weekend following allegation­s of misconduct. WPP's shares closed the day down 6.48% or 77p at 1,111p.

Shares in Costa owner Whitbread rocketed after activist investor Elliott said it had become the business's largest shareholde­r.

Elliott now owns over 6% of Whitbread, the firm said on Saturday, and it is understood that it will now push for Costa and Premier Inn to become two separate listed entities.

Whitbread's shares closed up 7.19% or 283p at 4,218p.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Whitbread, up 283p to 4,218p, Smurfit Kappa Group, up 90p to 3,072p, Marks and Spencer up 4.6p to 276.3p and Rolls Royce, up 11p to 877.8p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Evraz down 27.4p to 365.2p, WPP down 77p to 1,111p and Sage Group down 18.6p to 598.4p.

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