LONDON MARKETS: FTSE 100 Ends Lower While Political Turmoil Whacks The Pound
November 13 2017 - 1:09PM
Dow Jones News
By Carla Mozee and Victor Reklaitis, MarketWatch
Blue-chip benchmark falls for third session in a row
U.K. blue chips stocks finished slightly lower Monday, though
their drop was limited by the pound's fall, which came after
reports that British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing pressure
to resign.
What markets are doing: The FTSE 100 index fell 0.2% to end at
7,415.18, extending Friday's fall of 0.7%
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/retailers-help-drive-ftse-100-toward-biggest-weekly-fall-in-2-months-2017-11-10).
The benchmark, which has fallen for three straight sessions, closed
at its lowest level since Sept. 29.
The pound traded at $1.3104, down from $1.3191 late Friday in
New York. Against the euro, sterling bought EUR1.1238, falling from
EUR1.1309 late Friday.
What's moving markets: The pound was knocked back after The
Sunday Times reported
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjJwKegh7vXAhVD2KQKHX25AqkQqUMILDAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Farticle%2Ftory-turmoil-as-40-mps-say-may-must-go-kkg3w6l89&usg=AOvVaw0P3ydYgZ0X_1ThNri40pNZ)
that 40 lawmakers in the British parliament had agreed to sign a
letter of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May. Just eight
more MPs are required to start a formal leadership challenge,
according to the report.
But the pound's decline bolstered shares of multinational
companies that make most of their earnings overseas. A weak pound
can boost profits once they are converted from other currencies
into sterling.
Check out:Is British leader Theresa May on her way out? Why
that's the fear--and why it matters
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-british-leader-theresa-may-on-her-way-out-why-thats-the-fear-and-why-it-matters-2017-11-09)
What strategists are saying: "The remainder of Europe is firmly
in the red, but the weakness in sterling has cushioned the fall in
the British index," said David Madden, a CMC Markets UK analyst, in
a note.
Opinion:Brexit hard-liners are selling England by the pound
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brexit-hardliners-are-selling-england-by-the-pound-2017-11-09)
Stock movers: Among multinationals, shares of drugmaker
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) (AZN.LN) climbed 1.2% and consumer
products heavyweight Unilever PLC (ULVR.LN) rose 0.8%.
Iron-ore miner Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) (RIO) (RIO) closed up
0.1%.
Oil producer Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) (RDSB.LN) tacked on
0.8%. Shell said it would raise 2.2 billion Australian dollars
($1.7 billion) from the sale of 71.6 million shares
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/shell-raises-a22-bln-from-woodside-shares-sale-2017-11-13)
in Woodside Petroleum Ltd. (WPL.AU).
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola HBC shares fell 4.5%. The bottler's rating
was cut to neutral from overweight at J.P. Morgan Cazenove,
according to Dow Jones Newswires.
Taylor Wimpey PLC (TW.LN) edged down less than 0.1%, giving up
gains, after the house builder said it's on track to meet yearly
expectations
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/taylor-wimpey-on-track-to-meet-yearly-expectations-2017-11-13).
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 13, 2017 12:54 ET (17:54 GMT)
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