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Energy shares weigh on FTSE 100 Energy shares weigh on FTSE 100
(about 4 hours later)
(Noon): The FTSE 100 was struggling to make headway as falling oil prices pushed shares in energy firms lower. (Close): Brent crude futures fell over $4 dollars on Thursday hitting a low at one point of $71.25 after a meeting of the Opec oil cartel ended with a decision not to cut production.
The price of Brent crude fell to a four-year low, below $76 a barrel, with traders speculating that producer cartel Opec will not announce any output cuts at their meeting later. That boosted some companies likely to benefit from lower costs but weighed on energy companies.
Shares in oil giant BP were down 0.5% and BG Group dropped 1.6%. Shares in BG Group dropped 5.98%. Tullow Oil was down 7.2%.
After a mixed morning, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 4.24 points at 6,733.41. At the close, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 5.57 points or 0.09% at 6723.42.
In the FTSE 250, shares in transport group Stagecoach jumped 7.5% after the company's joint venture with Virgin was awarded the franchise to run the East Coast mainline rail route. Easyjet shares were up 5.7% and shares in other travel companies also benefited from the fall in oil prices.
Earlier in the day shares in transport group Stagecoach jumped after the company's joint venture with Virgin was awarded the franchise to run the East Coast mainline rail route. Stagecoach closed the day 8.2% higher.
The consortium - which is 90% owned by Stagecoach - will pay the government around £3.3bn for the contract.The consortium - which is 90% owned by Stagecoach - will pay the government around £3.3bn for the contract.
Shares in FirstGroup - one of the unsuccessful bidders for the rail franchise - fell more than 5% at first, but then recovered to stand unchanged on the day at 108p. Shares in FirstGroup - one of the unsuccessful bidders for the rail franchise - fell more than 5% at first, but then recovered to end the day 1.94% higher.
Poundland shares rose 2.8% after the retailer reported a 12% rise in half-year profits, with like-for-like sales up 4.7%. Poundland shares rose 2% after the retailer reported a 12% rise in half-year profits, with like-for-like sales up 4.7%.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.16% against the dollar to $1.5767 and was unchanged against the euro at €1.2629. On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.46% against the dollar to $1.572 and was also lower against the euro at €1.2598