Energy stocks led the FTSE 100 Index lower today after Labour leader Ed Miliband reiterated his election pledge to force a cut in household bills.
He wants Ofgem to have the power to order energy companies to cut their prices by the end of the year if Labour gains office at the general-election.
The pledge spooked investors in Scottish Gas owner Centrica and rival SSE as shares dipped by 4.5p to 236.85p and 27.5p to 1463.5p respectively.
The Footsie was 24.5 points lower at 6736.5 at the end of a rollercoaster week in which the top flight suffered its steepest fall in five months on Tuesday before recovering over the next two sessions.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average last night closed 1.5% higher after weak US retail sales eased concerns about the threat of a rise in US interest rates.
Weak construction industry data meant sterling continued to lose ground against the US dollar, with the pound now at 1.48 versus the greenback.
In the City today, shares in Royal Dutch Shell and BP put pressure on the FTSE after falling 33.5p to 2019.5p and 6.4p to 419.5p respectively.
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