The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today, rising just 0.4 points to 5,664.5, as traders nervously awaited key minutes from the US Federal Reserve.
Most investors were looking for any signs of further stimulus measures from America’s central bank, which could help boost the world’s biggest economy.
Burberry shares sank into the red, falling 95p to £11.89, after the luxury fashion group posted lower-than-expected sales growth and warned over trading conditions.
Retail bellwether Marks and Spencer fell another 3% – down 9.6p to 318.2p – after a 2% decline on Tuesday, when it reported its worst non-food sales performance for more than three years.
Under-fire bank Barclays was 2.4p lower at 164.7p as it continued to suffer the fallout from its interbank rate fixing scandal.
Other big Footsie fallers included Polymetal International off 43p at £8.34, Aggreko down 89p to £19.93 and Weir group 63p lower at £15.16.
Big risers included Glencore International up 5.8p to 316.3p, Arm Holdings ahead 7.5p at £4.88, Aviva up 4.4p to 290.8p and Xstrata 12.5p better off at £8.39.
Outside the top flight, soft drink-maker Britvic slumped 13%, or 40.1p to 260.1p after it said the profit impact of recalling packs of Robinsons Fruit Shoot with a new cap design was set to rise to up to £25million.
Recruitment firm Hays was another FTSE 250 stock in the red as it reported a drop in net fee income in its final quarter due to increasingly challenging market conditions. Hays’ shares fell 3%, or 2.5p to 70.6p.
Pubs group JD Wetherspoon lifted 4%, or 16.2p to 437.9p after a 6.1% year-on-year rise in quarterly sales.
Alan MacPhee, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Xcite Energy adding 17.78% to 79.75p, Faroe Petroleum jumping 1.75% to 145.25p and BG Group 0.38% stronger at £13.05.
FirstGroup edged 7.05% lower to 189.6p, Enquest was down 1.6% at 110.5p and Wood Group lost 1.24% to £7.19.
