The UK's FTSE 100 index has slipped a fraction after yesteday's rally, paced this morning by Vodafone.
The benchmark index has slipped a fraction losing 0.3 points to 4736.5 points in the first hour of trading, while the mobile phone giant has slipped 4p to 139p, after reportings it is in the process of a bid with US partner Verizon Communications for Sprint Corp. Boots has also lost 10.5p to 631p. But on the other end of the scale, UK bank HBOS has raced 37p or 4.7% higher to 813p after announcing its profits would exceed analysts estimates after better than expected trading. HBOS plans a £750m stock buy back in 2005. Rival Northern Rock has also added 18p to 793.50p. Steel compan...
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