FTSE closes down on BHP purchase

The FTSE 100 index has closed the day down 16.3 points or 0.32% to 5,010.9 after a bad day’s trading saw mining giant BHP Billiton lose ground following its takeover announcement. Rival mining firm Xstrata, in contrast, gained 21p or 2% to £10.61, along with British Airways which rose 4.5p or 1.63% to 281p after announcing it was appointing a new chairman, and Exel added 20p or 2.34% to 874.5p. On the down side, money manager Amvescap dropped 9.25p or 2.56% to 352.75p and life assurance giant Aviva fell 15p or 2.21% to 662.5p while high street retailer lost 3.75p or 2.35% to 155.5p. ...