US affects FTSE's poor start

The Benchmark has shed about 36 points to 4,711, paced by weapons maker BAE Systems, which reports one of its divisions will contribute less profit in 2005. BAE Systems has lost 4%, or 10.50p to 246.75p followed by Anglo American, down 29p to 1206p. Drinks company Diageo is down 15.50p to 723p. Smiths Group leads the climbers, adding 14.50p to 781p after the manufacturer of health- care and aerospace equipment acquired Medex, a maker of anaesthesia devices, for $625m in cash to expand its medical-equipment division. Shares in the Nikkei 225 Stock Average index declined 0.8% to 10,98...