The FTSE 100 has ended the day down 23.9 points, or 0.39%, to 6,160.9 as a late rally by energy stocks limited losses.
Building materials group Hanson was the biggest drag on the index with a drop of 4.44% to 711p, closely followed by WPP which dropped 2.03% to 675p, while Reuters Group slipped 2.01% to 451.25p. Drug stocks also suffered with AstraZeneca falling 3.77% to £31.39, while GlaxoSmithKline slipped 2.83% to £14.10, as brokers cut their forecasts following disappointing news on their drug pipelines. However British Energy posted the biggest gains with a rise of 3.71% to 419.5p, closely followed by Drax Group which gained 2.29% to 804p, while Scottish & Southern Energy climbed 1.69% to £13.21. ...
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