FTSE ends down despite late fightback

HBOS lost the most ground today after warning about squeezed margins in its 2007 results, the lender fell 10.78% to 657. Directories group Yell also struggled, dipping 4.46% to 273; while South African insurer Old Mutual fell despite some solid 2007 results also released today, down 3.28% to 132.50. Rising oil and metal prices couple with a weak dollar led to a strong day for miners, with Vedanta up 6.13% to 2199. Admiral Group was enjoyed a positive session, up 4.01% to 1090 and Schroders climbed 2.95% to 977. In New York, the Dow Jones IA has bounced back from a sluggish start to...