Posted by
alfredlester on Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:18:50 PM
LONDON (AFP) – London stocks retreated from previous gains on Wednesday while investors remained on tenterhooks before a US Federal Reserve interest rate call.
The FTSE 100 index of leading shares dropped 0.06 percent to 5,139.37 points.
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was the most traded stock, seeing 164 million stocks switch owners, followed by telecom giant Vodafone which saw 134 million shares change hands.
Fashion label Burberry was the top blue-chip gainer, adding 25.9 pence -- or 5.43 percent -- to finish at 502.5, followed by Standard Chartered bank, which added 64 pence -- or 4.32 percent -- to end at 1544.
Shopping-centre owner Liberty International was under heavy selling pressure after announcing plans to sell shares for the second time in five months no fax payday loans. The company&&9;s shares slipped 57.0 pence -- or 10.1 percent -- to end at 507.
Real estate investment trust British Land was the second sharpest faller shedding 23.0 pence -- or 4.48 percent -- to close at 490.
Sterling edged higher against both the dollar and the euro.
The pound was worth 1.6391 dollars at 16:58 BST, up from 1.6359 at Tuesday&&9;s close, while it stood at 1.1120 euros, up from 1.1058 over the same period.
FTSE retreats from previous gains