HBOS hangover hits FTSE

The blue-chip index fell 129.8 points, or 2.38%, to 5,320.4, while HBOS slipped 22p, or 7.35%, at 277.5p, reports the company may sell its Australian subsidiary BankWest to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia facilitating the fall. Senior manager departures at Wolseley UK saw the heating and building materials distributor soar to the top of the FTSE100 loser’s table on Tuesday. The firm has dropped 36.75p, or 8.62%, to 389.5p. Smith & Nephew, up 13.5p, or 2.18%, to 632p was a rare bright spark on a gloomy day for the FTSE. Xstrata, John Wood Group and Scottish & Southern Energy also made m...