The FTSE 100 has ended the day slightly down with a drop of 1.4 points, or 0.02%, to 6,364.7, as stocks trading ex-dividend offset insurer gains.
Home Retail, the owner of Argos, posted the biggest gains with a rise of 2.51% to 460.25p, closely followed by insurer Prudential which added 1.71% to 744.5p, while Resolution advanced 1.44% to 634p, following a broker upgrade. International Power climbed 1.4% to 417p, while Cable & Wireless added 1.34% to 174.5p, although the index was dragged lower by Cadbury Schweppes which slipped 1.64% to 660.5p, and Hanson dropped 1.87% to 814p. However the biggest losers were the stock trading ex-dividend – without the right to the latest payout – with Alliance & Leicester leading the decline wit...
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