The FTSE 100 Index fell 11 points to 6,053.6 today as it emerged unemployment in the eurozone hit a record high of 11.8% in November.
Mobile phone giant Vodafone was among the top blue-chip risers however, up 2.8p to 162.4p, after the boss of Verizon Communications discussed the possibility of buying the UK company’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless.
Miner Anglo American was also doing well after investors reacted positively to the company’s appointment of Mark Cutifani as chief executive to replace Cynthia Carroll, who will step down at the end of April. Shares were 1.4% higher, up 27.5p to £20.28.
Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland continued to rise after proposals aimed at ensuring firms can survive a short-term crisis were softened by regulators. Shares were up 1% today, ahead 3.1p to 337p.
Sainsbury’s was the best performing stock in the supermarket sector after figures from Kantar Worldpanel said the chain was the only retailer to increase its market share compared with last year. Its share price rose 7.3p to 339p.
Rival Tesco was also on the risers board after the figures pointed to a further recovery. Shares were up 2.2p to 351.5p, but Morrisons, which saw its market share decline to 12% in the 12 weeks to December 23, was down 2.8p to 253.3p.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers included Shire up 49p to £19.63 and Resolution up 4p to 254.9p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Tullow Oil down 46p to £12.25, TUI Travel off 9.8p to 276.8p, Antofagasta 34p lower at £12.88 and CRH down 32p to £12.21.
Elaine McLachlan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Inverness, noted that risers included Petroceltic, up 6.7% at 7.47p, while Superglass was 2.2% higher at 5.5p.
Fallers included Faroe Petroleum down 3.4% at 136p and FirstGroup off 2% at 204.8p.