World markets suffered another day of losses today amid the escalating crisis in Cyprus.
The FTSE 100 Index fell for the fifth straight session, closing 44.2 points lower at 6,388.6 after the European Central Bank gave Cyprus until Monday to find a solution to avoid bankruptcy.
Shares in fashion chain Next were at the top of a shortened risers board after it posted a 9% rise in full-year profits to £622million. Shares were up by 167p to £43.14, a gain of 4%.
Rivals fared less well, with Marks & Spencer down 2.4p to 390p and Sainsbury’s off 6.7p to 367.9p.
There was also a fall of 3% for Ted Baker in the FTSE 250 Index, despite the fashion chain reporting a 19% rise in full-year profits to £28.9million. The share price fall of 34p to £13.20 offset some of the progress seen over the past year.
Fallers also included BT Group, which was down 6.4p at 266.3p, and Burberry with a decline of 38p to £13.87.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers included AstraZeneca ahead 93p to £31.33, Randgold Resources 140p higher at £56.35 and United Utilities up 13.5p to 709p.
The biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Eurasian Natural Resources down 12.6p to 294.3p, Arm off 28p to 878.5p, Smiths 36p lower at £12.84 and Experian down 31p at £11.30.
Elaine McLachlan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Inverness, noted that risers included A.G. Barr, up 3.7% to 536.8p, while Premier Oil was up 2% to 396.05p.
Fallers included Parkmead, down 5.6% lower at 13.25p, and Rangers FC, which dropped 3.8% at 75.5p.