The FTSE 100 index is down about 4 points to 4,515 this morning as investors continue to fret about the effects on commodities prices of Chinese government pronouncements on the need to trim growth rates to avoid price bubbles in local industries.
Xstrata, one of the biggest coal exporters, is down 12p to 630p. Anglo American is down 17p to 1,146p. Pearson is down 8p to 657.5p even after forecasting a rise in sales and profits this year as advertising income picks up. WPP likewise is down 6p to 564.5p, despite reporting a 5.4% increase in first-quarter turnover compared to the same period last year. Aviva is down 1.5p to 553.5p after rumours it is looking to sell off some of its Asian businesses. Abbey is up 9.75p to 441.75p after speculatino Santander Central Hispano has been in talks with the struggling bank aimed at...
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