Anxious investors weigh on FTSE as engineering is hit – London Report
London’s leading shares closed lower yesterday as anxious investors awaited the outcome of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate-setting meeting.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.68 per cent lower, or 42.22 points, at 6186.99.
Engineering firms led the index downward, with the Weir Group slipping 2.58 per cent and Smiths Group shedding 4.16 per cent by the close.
Analysts said the sector had suffered a knock-on effect from a profit warning issued by rival Rotork, listed on the FTSE 250, which closed 10.83 per cent lower.
The top gainer on the index was Compass Group which closed up 1.57 per cent.
Merlin Entertainments, which owns Legoland, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers theme park, saw its shares dipped 0.03 per cent after it issued a trading statement saying a rollercoaster accident in June at Alton Towers had significantly hit the number of visitors to the park.