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Tobacco firms lead FTSE 100 lower | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Shares in telecoms group BT fell 1.8% after it took a £225m charge related to its Italian accounting scandal. | |
BT is paying the money to Deutsche Telekom and Orange to avoid legal action over the issue. | BT is paying the money to Deutsche Telekom and Orange to avoid legal action over the issue. |
The two firms now hold stakes in BT as part of the deal that saw them sell the EE mobile network to the UK company. | |
The FTSE 100 closed down 1% at 7,368.37. Main faller was British American Tobacco, down 6.8% after US proposals to cut cigarette nicotine. | |
Second biggest faller was fellow cigarette producer Imperial Brands, down 3.79%. | |
British Airways owner IAG had a turbulent day, and closed 0.08% lower. The airline group reported a strong rise in half-year profits, despite being hit by costs related to BA's computer failure in May. | |
Barclays shares also went into reverse as investors digested its half-year results, dropping 1.68%. Costs related to the sale of part of its Africa business pushed it into a loss, but once these were stripped out pre-tax profits were up 13%. | |
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.1% against the dollar to $1.3076 and fell 0.2% against the euro to 1.1171 euros. | On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.1% against the dollar to $1.3076 and fell 0.2% against the euro to 1.1171 euros. |