BAE keeps FTSE steady

Intercontinental Hotels led the gains with an increase of 2.78% to 905p, as traders bought in ahead of next week’s interim results, while BAE climbed 2.64% to 369.5p, on hopes it will benefit from a deal brokered by the British MoD to supply 72 Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile advertising giant WPP also performed well, with gains of 2.11% to 652p, after reporting a 30% increase in first half profits and announcing plans to ramp up its share buyback programme. British Energy continued its downward spiral with a drop of 4.39% to 685.5p, while miners suffered as China increase...