FTSE ends week down as Allied losses wipe out Sage gains

Sage, a maker of accounting software, rose 6p to 180.5p, after Microsoft, the world's largest maker of software, said it expected earnings next year to beat forecasts. HSBC added 8p to 838p after Deutsche Bank AG raised its recommendation for the bank's shares to "buy" from "hold". Allied Domecq lost 11.5p to 454.5p after Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. cut its recommendation for the liquor maker's stock to "equal weight" from "overweight". BHP Billiton, one of the world's largest mining companies, gained 7p to 483p. Meanwhile, the publisher of IFAonline, Incisive Media plc, jumped...