BP and Vodafone offset tech gains

Looking increasingly range bound, the FTSE 100 finished Tuesday just 1 point higher at 5179.6. Vodafone and BP put the kibosh on what was otherwise a pretty good day for tech stocks. Had it not been for heavyweights Vodafone and BP, the FTSE 100 would have enjoyed a gain of around 26 points. BP fell 9p to 599.5p. A sufficient supply of crude was promised by Saudi Arabia today in the wake of Iraq's decision to halt exports for 30 days. Vodafone shed 4.5% to 121p, its worst value since October 1998. The stock fell on news that Verizon Communications, which co-owns the big...