Footsie shrugs off UK rating downgrade
LONDON’S top flight index appeared to shrug off the loss of the UK’s AAA credit rating yesterday, with subdued trading across the Atlantic proving a greater concern to investors.
The FTSE 100 Index reached five year highs during the day, but lost early gains ahead of US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s testimony to the Senate Banking Committee today.
The FTSE 100 closed up 19.7 points at 6355.4, while on Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened flat in anticipation of an update on the Fed’s asset purchase plans.
The overseas dominance of the FTSE 100, with an estimated 70% of earnings derived from outside the UK, ensured the Moody’s downgrade prior to the weekend did not impact on the mood of London equities.
But on currency markets the pound weakened during overnight trading in Asia, leaving it at a 31-month low against the US dollar at 1.51 and at a 16-month low against the resurgent euro. Sterling was 1.15 against the euro as traders were encouraged by early poll indications the Italian election was set to be won by Pier Luigi Bersani of the centre left, the main competitor to the centre-right party led by Silvio Berlusconi.
Joshua Mahony, research analyst at Alpari, said: “Markets had feared that a move to appoint the controversial expresident would set back not only Italy’s chances of pulling out of it’s current downturn, but would also dent hopes of a relatively swift exit from the depression seen across the eurozone.”
Publisher Pearson topped the FTSE 100 fallers board today with a 4% drop in its share price after it warned of job cuts under a restructuring that will focus 237 1323 1229 3135 597 1903 556 5141 1117 1199 1171 2273 4381 3701 2563 3677 3507 1140 2398 512 +153 +53 +50 +125 +20 +62 +18 +16 +33 +34 -45 -83 -135 -107 -69 -93 -91 -29 -61 -13 +7.09 +4.25 +4.24 +4.19 +3.47 +3.37 +3.35 +3.21 +3.04 +2.92 -3.70 -3.56 -2.99 -2.86 -2.62 -2.57 -2.55 -2.48 -2.48 -2.48 its education arm on fast-growing and digital markets.
Shares fell 45p to 1171p as the company, which is preparing to integrate its Penguin books arm with Random House, said operating profits were 1% higher at £936 million last year.
Associated British Foods shares were also lower despite impressive sales from its Primark retail chain.
Marks & Spencer shares also fell 9.7p to 367.9p after leaked industry figures over the weekend showed it continued to lose market share in fashion.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Antofagasta up 33p to 1117p, Royal Bank of Scotland ahead 9.8p to 354.8p, RSA 3.1p higher at 120.7p and Glencore International up 8.4p to 382p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Pearson down 45p to 1171p, Reckitt Benckiser off 135p to 4381p, Whitbread 69p lower at 2563p and Marks and Spencer down 9.7p to 367.9p. US stocks suffered their biggest drop since November after a strong showing in Italian elections by groups opposed to the country’s economic reforms triggered fear that Europe’s debt problems could once again destabilise the global economy.
The decline marks the biggest percentage drop for the benchmarkStandard & Poor’s 500 Index since November 7, and drove the SP down to its lowest close since January 18. The CBOE Volatility Index or VIX, Wall Street’s favorite barometer of fear, surged 34%, its biggest jump since August 18, 2011.
Selling rose late in the trading session after the SP 500 fell below the 1500 level, which has acted as a support point. Monday marked the SP’s first close under 1500 since February 4.
Italy’s centre-left coalition holds a slim lead over ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right bloc in the election for the lower house of parliament, TV projections indicated. But any government must also command a majority in the Senate, a race decided by region.
The resulting gridlock in parliament could lead to new elections and cast into doubt Italy’s ability to pay down its debt.
“Europe hasn’t gone away as an issue, it is going to hang around, and it is rearing its ugly head today,” said Stephen Massocca, managing director of Wedbush Morgan in San Francisco.