FTSE flags after RBS rights issue

Shares in RBS had fallen 46p, or 14.6%, to 272.5, helping to drag the FTSE marginally down 12.1p, or 0.19%, to 6,203.9. Alliance & Leicester remains in the loser’s table in early trading and has slipped to 430.5p per share. HBOS, BHP Billiton and Carphone Warehouse have also been hit by marginal losses. However, the losses are being largely offset by gains for SABMiller, up 62p, or 5.15%, to £12.65 and Cairn Energy, up 124p to £35.12. In the US, the Dow Jones finished Wednesday up 66.2 points, or 0.52%, to 12,898.38. Hewlett Packard topped the winner’s table, up 1.37 points, or 3.09%, ...