MARKET REPORT

LONDON markets took another battering yesterday as fears of a recession and a stronger pound pushed shares lower.

The FTSE 100 shed 80.87 points, or 1.13%, to close at 7,067.01.

Multiple factors were weighing on the index, chiefly a gloomy global economic mood after fears were raised that the UK and countries around the world could be heading for a recession.

In company news, owner pushed its profit forecasts higher as its UK high street stores performed better than expected despite the clampdown on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

But shares slipped by 1.6p to 545.2p.

Transport giant appointed the former boss of rival

as its new chairman as the group looks to move on from its spat with activist investor

Investors were cheered by the news, with shares up 7.3p to 121.9p.

Luxembourg-based upped its stake in from 38.65% to 44.09%, amid its efforts to take control of the group.

EasyHotel shares were flat, having already surged earlier in the month when the initial offer was made.

saw shares plummet 20.8p to 177.65p yesterday after two key brokers lowered their forecasts for the publicowned bank.

Paving slab supplier said it was “outperforming” the construction sector after posting double-figure revenue and profit growth in the first half of 2019.

Shares inched 1.5p higher to 616.5p.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 yesterday were up 15p to 789.2p, up 41p to

up 8.2p to 3,049.5p, 851p and up 10.6p to 1,568.6p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were down 20.8p to 177.65p, down 48.2p to 760.6p, down 37.7p to 641p and down 28.5p to 498.9p.