The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
FTSE dips as investors brace for Irma in US
London’s top-flight index drifted lower yesterday as investors braced for the impact of Hurricane Irma on the United States.
The FTSE 100 Index was down 19.38 points to 7,377.6, as the Hurricane barrelled towards the Florida coast after devastating islands.
Sterling was up 0.9% versus the US dollar at 1.32, while the UK currency also pushed 0.7% higher against the euro at 1.09.
In oil, Brent crude dropped 0.5% to 54.21 US dollars a barrel.
In UK stocks, Trinity Mirror was nursing losses as traders reacted to the announcement that it was in talks to buy 100% of Daily Express group Northern & Shell.
The publisher of the Daily Mirror sunk close 4.5p to 86.3p, after it said that it has “ceased discussions to acquire a minority stake” and is instead in talks to buy the publisher, which also comprises the Daily Star, in its entirety.
The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 index were St James’s Place up 24p to 1,142p, Barclays up 3.6p to 187.6p, and Convatec Group up 5.2p to 278.2p.
The biggest fallers were BHP Billiton down 55p to 1,402.5p, Antofagasta down 39p to 1,008p, and Kingfisher down 10.8p to 288p.