The FTSE 100 index is currently down 18.7 points, or 0.32%, to 5,852.2, with weak oil stocks leading the drop.
As oil prices have slipped towards $73 a barrel on a fragile truce between Israel and Lebanon, and as oil is to be kept flowing from North America's largest field, BP has fallen 0.24% to 614.5p, while Royal Dutch Shell has slipped 0.32% to 1,853p. Miners have also eased, with Rio Tinto slipping 1.07% to 2,682p, while Antofagasta is down 0.65% to 423p, Vedanta has fallen 0.79% to 1,251p, and Xstrata has dropped 1.17% to 2,194p. Elsewhere, shares in Shire Pharmaceuticals have gained 5.39% to 929p as the group said it had settled pending litigation with Barr Pharmaceuticals, stopping Barr ...
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