Despite the odd acquisition announcement, UK shares in the main closed down today after a report suggested high street retail business fell to its lowest level in 10 years, sparking fresh recession fears.
As oil prices fell again and the British Retail Consortium published its report, stocks struggled to maintain any position and the FTSE 100 index closed down 17.9 points or 0.36% to 4,892.4. U.K. stocks fell as crude oil prices gained for the fifth straight session. Retailers such as Kingfisher Plc led the drop after the British Retail Consortium said high street sales in April fell the most in at least 10 years. BHP Billiton and its mining rival saw their share values fall, after the price of metals such as copper fell. BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining group, closed down 13p ...
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