Markets batten down ahead of hurricane "Rita"

Lloyds TSB Group has also slipped after analysts cut the lender's share-price forecast this morning. Smiths, which builds refueling systems for Boeing planes, has dropped 22p, or 2.3%, to 930p. The company says full-year earnings have risen 3.7% to £220.8m missing the median estimate of £231m. Lloyds TSB, the UK’s fifth-largest bank, has lost 3.25p, or 0.7%, to 461.25p. Analysts this morning lowered its share-price forecast to 450p from 475p because of slowing loan growth. Amstrad, which makes television set-top boxes for British Sky Broadcasting Group, has fallen 15.75p or 11%, to 1...