The FTSE 100 index fell 0.83% to 6,016.5 points today as mining and oil stocks saw early gains trimmed and Scottish & Newcastle dominated the fallers.
Scottish & Newcastle was worst performer, falling 4.7% to 506.5p, after it splashed out £309m to acquire the Fosters lager brand from parent company Foster's Group. Prudential dropped 2.02% to 654p after Axa denied it is takeover talks and HBOS fell 1.69% to 933.50p, failing to benefit from a Credit Suisse upgrade to "overweight" from "neutral". Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer rose 3.90% to 586p after it unveiled better than expected fourth quarter figures. UK like-for-like sales rose at more than double expectations at 6.8% with general merchandise up 8.2% and food 5.6% better. Miners also...
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