FTSE 100 flat as market sentiment wanes
The leading share index was flat in early trading, as market sentiment remained cautious as uncertainty over Greek aid talks and the US fiscal policy outlook was compounded by weak GDP data from Japan.
Miners led the blue chip fallers in early deals.
On the FTSE All-Share, energy support services firm Cape was down 35.12 per cent as it said it had discovered accounting irregularities at its Australian arm.
Defence technology supplier Cobham fell 7.39 per cent as it warned revenue would fall next year.
Finnish miner Talvivaara declined 5.5 per cent, while internet sports distribution firm Perform fell almost five per cent.
IT services provider Phoenix fell 4.69 per cent and oil and gas firm Fortune Oil dropped 3.75 per cent.
Heading up this morning’s leader board was information delivery platform Colt Group, adding 6.49 per cent.
Oil and gas group Ruspetro rose 4.9 per cent. Last week it said it was on track to meet its full year targets.
Support services and construction group Interserve jumped 3.24 per cent as it said it had traded in line with expectations in the second half of this year.
Interactive whiteboard maker Promethean increased 2.94 per cent. Last month it issued a profit warning, which sent its shares tumbling.
Meanwhile, insurer Admiral added 2.66 per cent.
UK banking shares were in negative territory this morning. HSBC fell 0.25 per cent, RBS declined 0.04 per cent, Barclays dropped 0.44 per cent and Lloyds Banking Group was down 0.36 per cent.
In Asia, the Nikkei closed down 0.93 per cent and in the US the Dow Jones closed up 0.03 per cent.