In the UK the FTSE 100 Index slipped about 20 points to 4845.50 points at is close a short while ago, paced by Whitbread.
The owner of Pizza Hut restaurants and Costa Coffee dropped 44.50p or 4.85% to 873.50p, after weaker consumer confidence hampered its sales growth. Enterprise Inns also shed 23.50p to 750p, along with betting firm William, down 15p to 555.50p. Pharmaceutical shares led gains including AstraZeneca, up 40p to 22.95p, after an increase in its stock rating. Shire Pharmaceuticals has also picked up 19.50p to 561p, along with Smith & Nephew, up 8p to 532.50p. In the US the Dow Jones Industrial Average has opened a fraction down to 10,241.34 points, paced by Hewlett-Packard. The computer...
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