FTSE 100 down on concerns over Greece
The blue chip index edged down in early deals today, weighed down by a lack of agreement among Greece’s international lenders on emergency aid for the Eurozone country.
Credit card insurer CPP Group fell 7.48 per cent, while Imagination Technologies sank 6.42 per cent on the news that it faced a rival for its bid for MIPS Technologies.
Blue chip Johnson Matthey dropped 5.16 per cent, as it reported a six per cent drop in pre-tax profits in the first half.
Avocet Mining fell more than five per cent, while bicycle and car parts retailer Halfords sank 3.68 per cent as its first-half profits slumped 23 per cent.
At the other end of the spectrum, TT Electronics jumped 12.17 per cent, as announced it was to sell its secure power division business.
Electrical retailer Darty added 9.66 per cent, as it said it was to sell its loss-making Italian business.
Medical technology firm Optos reported a jump in revenue of 37 per cent this morning, sending its shares up by more than nine per cent in early trading.
Hyder Consulting, which this morning posted adjusted pre-tax profits up 28 per cent over the six months to September, jumped 8.22 per cent.
Trinity Mirror added 3.47 per cent as the newspaper publisher said it would buy a 20 per cent stake in new regional media venture Local World.
UK banking shares had a good morning. HSBC was up 0.4 per cent, RBS was up 1.06 per cent, Barclays added 0.99 per cent and Lloyds Banking Group rose 1.76 per cent.
In Asia, the Nikkei closed up 0.87 per cent, while in the US the Dow Jones closed down 0.06 per cent.