The FTSE 100 Index closed down 38.60 points, or 0.7%, at 5,818.80 points today as blue-chips including Royal Bank of Scotland went ex-dividend and miners fell on lower metal prices.
Royal Bank of Scotland, ex-dividend today, fell 2.78% to 1,852p following reports it is in exclusive talks with leisure group Whitbread to buy hotels worth £1bn. The market was also brought lower with Anglo American, Lloyds TSB and Aviva all going ex-dividend. Anglo American shares dropped 2.93% to 1,990p, Lloyds TSB fell 4.05% to 521.25p and Aviva declined 3.48% to 789.50p. Miners extended yesterday's slide on metal prices. Kazakhmys dropped 3.45% to 826p, Xstrata was 1.95% lower at 1,659p, Rio Tinto fell 1.60% to 2,588p and BHP Billiton lost 1.93% to 916.50p. Meanwhile, Provident...
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