Big news in the UK markets this morning is the suggestion HBOS is now considering a takeover bid for Abbey group, but markets are marginally down on the prospect of Al Qaeda terrorist attacks.
The FTSE 100 index fell 3.9 points to 4409 within the first hour of trading while the FTSE All-Share index dropped 0.1% to 2,190 and the FTSE 250 index lost 7.9 points to 6015. Abbey has seen its share price bounce back up 10.5p or 1.9% this morning to 577.5p however, HBOS’ value has dropped 13.5p or 1.9% to 699p after suggesting it would mount a counter-bid to buy Abbey National plc to stop Banco Santander stepping into the UK market. Other stocks suffering the fall are those companies who could be affected by Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks, after the US government reported more attacks ...
To continue reading this article...
Join Professional Adviser for free
- Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
- Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
- Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
- Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
- Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
- Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes