Mortgage downturn weighs on FTSE

Barratt Developments shares gained 20.5 points, or 3.11%, to 679p, followed by Tate & Lyle, which saw shares add 12.25 points, or 2.73%, to 461p. Capita gained 15.5 points, or 2.08%, to 759.5p, Persimmon climbed 18.5 points, or 1.93%, to 978.5p, while Taylor Wimpey added 4.75 points, or 1.88%, to 258p. Alliance & Leicester shares dropped 33.5 points, or 4.43%, to 722.5p, WPP Group lost 16.5 points, or 2.38%, to 677.5p, while AstraZeneca fell 57 points, or 2.23%, to £24.97. On Wall Street, shares fell slightly after poor profit figures emerged from Bank of America and the Dow Jones was ...