London close: FTSE closes slightly lower after data-heavy week

22nd Nov 2013 16:48

- FTSE down seven points, 19 on the week- German GDP in-line- Former Co-op Bank Chairman arrested- TUI sinks on share sale- AstraZeneca rises on recommendation from EMAtechMARK 2,642.04 +0.25%FTSE 100 6,674.30 -0.11%FTSE 250 15,187.68 +0.26%The final session of the week saw the FTSE end seven points lower, down 19 points over the five-day period. Investors have had a good deal of data to process since Wednesday, and had to balance yesterday's better-than-expected US weekly jobless claims report with minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting, which revealed members had continued to support the idea of winding down bond purchases in the "coming months". Today revealed German gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.6% in the third quarter, at the same rate of growth as the previous period, driven by domestic demand in construction and investment which offset a slump in exports.Separately, but also in Europe's biggest economy, the Ifo institute's business climate index, based on a survey of 7,000 executives, increased to 109.3 in November from 107.4 in October, exceeding the 107.7 forecast. The data signalled that the recovery in Germany's economy remains on track despite a nascent recovery in the euro-area. Today's biggest headlines included the arrest of disgraced Paul Flowers, the former chairman of the Co-op Bank, in connection with recent allegations he purchased and used illegal drugs. Also, fuel prices have continued to fall, according to the AA, meaning the amount spent at the pump is at its lowest level in two and a half years. Petrol now costs an average of 130.44 a litre, compared to 132.16p last month. TUI Travel sinks as Norwegian investor sells upTUI Travel shares have come off recent highs after Norwegian investor John Fredriksen sold off his 5.4% stake in the group - although he upped his stake in its parent company to over 20%. Shares in biopharmaceutical business AstraZeneca received a boost this afternoon after the company, alongside sector peer Bristol-Myers Squibb, announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had recommended approval of Xigduo, a treatment for adult type two diabetic patients. Tullow Oil was also higher after it reported a fifth oil discovery onshore northern Kenya. The Agete-1 exploration well, in which Tullow has a 50% interest, has an estimated 100 metres of net oil pay in good quality sandstone reservoirs. The group also reported that elsewhere in Kenya, exploration and appraisal activities continued to accelerate with the Amosing-1 well expected to commence drilling before the end of November. Scandal-hit services company Serco Group saw its share price rise after it was announced its head of UK and Europe, Jeremy Stafford, was to quit. FTSE 100 - RisersWhitbread (WTB) 3,483.00p +2.99%ARM Holdings (ARM) 991.00p +2.80%Persimmon (PSN) 1,221.00p +2.00%Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,268.00p +1.81%WPP (WPP) 1,371.00p +1.71%Standard Life (SL.) 350.50p +1.48%GKN (GKN) 372.70p +1.47%Travis Perkins (TPK) 1,796.00p +1.41%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 496.00p +1.39%AstraZeneca (AZN) 3,446.50p +1.35%FTSE 100 - FallersTUI Travel (TT.) 359.00p -7.78%Vedanta Resources (VED) 895.00p -3.03%Fresnillo (FRES) 840.50p -2.66%Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 475.40p -2.38%BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,876.00p -1.75%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,194.00p -1.62%Weir Group (WEIR) 2,136.00p -1.25%Tate & Lyle (TATE) 794.00p -1.24%United Utilities Group (UU.) 666.00p -1.11%Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 74.62p -1.11%FTSE 250 - RisersCentamin (DI) (CEY) 47.31p +6.75%Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 2,256.00p +4.16%Chemring Group (CHG) 194.40p +3.96%Essar Energy (ESSR) 100.60p +3.60%St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 346.20p +3.50%IP Group (IPO) 158.20p +3.40%888 Holdings (888) 158.70p +3.12%SIG (SHI) 216.30p +3.10%Galliford Try (GFRD) 1,108.00p +3.07%Debenhams (DEB) 96.85p +3.03%FTSE 250 - FallersTelecom Plus (TEP) 1,829.00p -4.49%Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 148.40p -3.82%Kenmare Resources (KMR) 18.85p -3.68%UDG Healthcare Public Limited Company (UDG) 294.00p -3.32%COLT Group SA (COLT) 125.70p -3.23%CSR (CSR) 478.70p -2.82%Rathbone Brothers (RAT) 1,499.00p -2.66%Partnership Assurance Group (PA.) 309.00p -2.52%PayPoint (PAY) 1,048.00p -2.51%Carpetright (CPR) 585.50p -2.42%FTSE TechMARK - RisersSkyepharma (SKP) 119.50p +4.37%Wolfson Microelectronics (WLF) 146.50p +2.81%Vectura Group (VEC) 105.00p +2.69%Oxford Biomedica (OXB) 2.42p +2.11%Torotrak (TRK) 25.00p +1.52%BATM Advanced Communications Ltd. (BVC) 17.75p +1.43%Consort Medical (CSRT) 895.00p +1.13%Phoenix IT Group (PNX) 142.25p +0.89%Ricardo (RCDO) 595.00p +0.76%SDL (SDL) 259.00p +0.10%FTSE TechMARK - FallersXP Power Ltd. (DI) (XPP) 1,515.00p -4.05%Sepura (SEPU) 125.00p -3.10%Anite (AIE) 84.75p -2.87%RM (RM.) 108.00p -2.81%Promethean World (PRW) 19.50p -2.50%E2V Technologies (E2V) 159.25p -1.85%Gresham Computing (GHT) 122.00p -1.61%Vislink (VLK) 46.50p -1.06%Kofax (KFX) 372.00p -0.93%Optos (OPTS) 157.00p -0.16%NR