Sluggish Wall Street silences FTSE

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London closed Wednesday lower as a downbeat Wall Street struck blue chips in late trading. The FTSE 100 index finished the session 47.90 points lower (0.81%) to 5837.30.

Beer brewer SABMiller lost the most ground, down 4.65% to 1087; while Homebase-owner Home Retail is lower on speculation its Christmas sales will be lower than expected, it dipped 4.55% to 277.75. Friends Provident fell despite snaring Standard Life’s UK head Trevor Matthews as its new CEO. The insurer lost 4.37% to 155.20 It was a tough day for financials all round, with lender Alliance & Leicester also struggling, down 4% to 672. Credit checking company Experian enjoyed stellar gains, leading the index up 5.75% to 432.50; while pub company Enterprise Inns jumped 4.35% to 449.50. In Ne...

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