London’s blue chip index slipped into reverse today despite a continued rally in banking shares.
The FTSE 100 Index, which hit a four-and-a-half year high earlier in the day, later lost the gains to close down 13.7 points at 6,107.9.
Lloyds Banking Group was near the top of the risers board after a 2% improvement, helped by recent speculation that it could be in a position to resume dividend payments in 2014. It was up 0.9p to 54.9p, while Royal Bank of Scotland improved 4.1p to 364.5p.
Other top flight risers included security group G4S after Credit Suisse lifted its target price on the stock as it believes the company should be able to win work in the UK public sector despite last summer’s bungled Olympics contract. Shares were up 2.6p to 270.3p.
Moss Bros jumped 8%, or 5.5p to 72p, after it said it traded well over Christmas, leading to improved expectations for full-year profits.
There was a similar update from pubs company Greene King, which rose 2.5p to 651p after it reported record sales over Christmas and New Year.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers were Eurasian Natural Resources up 11.4p to 334p, Schroders ahead 49p to £18.68 and Resolution 5.8p higher at 266.6p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Kazakhmys down 23p to 785.5p, Wood Group off 17.5p to 783.5p, Associated British Foods 30p lower at £15 and Whitbread down 48p to £24.13.
Stuart Lamont, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted that Optos was up 3.95% to 183.5p and Aberdeen Asset Management rose 1.58% to finish at a 12-month high of 397.7p.
The laggards included Faroe Petroleum, off 2.22% to 132.63p, while Aggreko lost 1.74% to close at £17.49.