The FTSE 100 index dropped 9.10 points to close at 4,309.40 today, again testing resilience after dipping below the 4,300 level in the hour before trading ceased.
The selling of shares came despite US government figures showing new housing sales in February were at their third highest ever monthly level, and that orders for so-called durable goods, such as cars, aircraft and computers increased following a drop in January. UK investors may have taken fright from statements by chancellor Gordon Brown that personal debt levels are not too high, in contrast to other recent statements from Bank of England policymakers saying they felt debt levels may require cooling through higher interest rates. However, more likely is that fears of terrorism afte...
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