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| Sage and Unilever lead FTSE 100 lower | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The FTSE 100 ended down on Thursday following sharp falls by Sage Group and Unilever. | |
| The blue chip share index dipped 2.94 points to 7,161.49. | |
| Shares in accountancy software specialist Sage tumbled 5.4% to 599p following poor sales in its US payments business which it may now sell. | |
| Consumer goods giant Unilever's stock plunged 4.7% to £31.91 on currency headwinds. | |
| Drinks-maker Diageo was the day's top riser, up 3.6% to £22.18, after the world fell back in love with Scotch. | |
| Royal Bank of Scotland retained its place as one of the best performers on Thursday when its shares rose 2.3% to 232.9p. | |
| The bank, which is 72% owned by the taxpayer, has set aside an extra $3.8bn to settle fines related to the sale of financial products linked sub-prime mortgages in the US. | |
| The UK market posted modest gains, with Royal Bank of Scotland leading the way despite it setting aside more money to deal with US litigation. | The UK market posted modest gains, with Royal Bank of Scotland leading the way despite it setting aside more money to deal with US litigation. |
| Shortly before midday, the FTSE 100 index was up 13.47 points at 7,177.90. | Shortly before midday, the FTSE 100 index was up 13.47 points at 7,177.90. |
| RBS jumped 5.2% even though the bank said it had set aside a further $3.8bn (£3.1bn) to cover potential fines. | RBS jumped 5.2% even though the bank said it had set aside a further $3.8bn (£3.1bn) to cover potential fines. |
| The provision is for an expected penalty over the sale of financial products linked to risky mortgages before the 2008 financial crisis. | The provision is for an expected penalty over the sale of financial products linked to risky mortgages before the 2008 financial crisis. |
| "RBS shares are up a touch today, perhaps as investors decide that things might not be as bad as feared (the fines coming its way could be less than the $12bn expected), and that things can now only get better," said Neil Wilson from ETX Capital. | "RBS shares are up a touch today, perhaps as investors decide that things might not be as bad as feared (the fines coming its way could be less than the $12bn expected), and that things can now only get better," said Neil Wilson from ETX Capital. |
| "That's a big assumption... it may to have to set more aside. It all depends on the negotiations with the Department of Justice." | "That's a big assumption... it may to have to set more aside. It all depends on the negotiations with the Department of Justice." |
| Diageo shares rose more than 4% after the company - whose brands include Johnnie Walker Scotch and Smirnoff vodka - reported a better-than-expected 4.4% rise in sales for the half-year to 31 December. | Diageo shares rose more than 4% after the company - whose brands include Johnnie Walker Scotch and Smirnoff vodka - reported a better-than-expected 4.4% rise in sales for the half-year to 31 December. |
| The company said it had been helped by an improved performance from its US spirits business. | The company said it had been helped by an improved performance from its US spirits business. |
| Whitbread shares fell 4.9% after the company reported disappointing trading at the London branches of its Premier Inn hotels business. | Whitbread shares fell 4.9% after the company reported disappointing trading at the London branches of its Premier Inn hotels business. |
| A key revenue measure for the London hotels fell by 6% in the three months to 1 December. | A key revenue measure for the London hotels fell by 6% in the three months to 1 December. |
| The results overshadowed better figures from its Costa Coffee chain, where like-for-like sales grew by 4.3%. | The results overshadowed better figures from its Costa Coffee chain, where like-for-like sales grew by 4.3%. |
| On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.4% against the dollar to $1.2580 and was 0.3% lower against the euro at 1.1722 euros. | On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.4% against the dollar to $1.2580 and was 0.3% lower against the euro at 1.1722 euros. |