FTSE down for second day on phone stocks

The benchmark index slipped 15.5 points or 0.3% to 4688.4 by close of business in London, along with the FTSE 350 index – containing several telecommunications firms – also fell 0.3% after the Bank of England left the base rate at 4.75%. By the end of the day, Vodafone lost 1.9% to 142p while its land-based rival BT ended 2.5% lower at 198.75p. Other firms didn’t fare too well either, as money managers Amvescap and Scroders took a tumble. Amvescap fell 8.75p or 2.74% to 311p while rival Schroders dipped 12.5p or 1.93% to 635.5p. One of the few firms to do really well today was the ...