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Oil price plunge hits energy shares Oil price plunge hits energy shares
(about 2 hours later)
(Noon): Shares in energy stocks fell further as investors continued to react to the sharp fall in oil prices following Thursday's Opec meeting. (Close): Shares in energy stocks fell further on Friday as investors continued to react to the sharp fall in oil prices following Thursday's Opec meeting.
The oil producers' cartel said it would maintain production at current levels.The oil producers' cartel said it would maintain production at current levels.
Shares in BG Group fell 7.7% and oil giant BP dropped 3.7%. The FTSE 100 fell 45.70 points to 6,677.72. Shares in BG Group fell 8.7% and oil giant BP dropped 1.4% having been lower earlier in the day.
After falling by more than $5 a barrel on Thursday, Brent crude fell further to hit $71.12 a barrel - before recovering to $72.80. But overall the FTSE 100 index closed just fractionally lower by 0.01% or 0.8 points at 6722.62.
The prospect of cheaper fuel boosted airline shares at first on hopes that fuel bills would be cut. However, early gains were soon erased. Easyjet was up 1.1%, but shares in British Airways owner IAG were 0.6% lower. After falling by more than $5 a barrel on Thursday, Brent crude fell further to hit $71.12 a barrel - before recovering to $72.20.
Shares in BT Group were up 3.9p at 409.2p. On Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported that Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of UK mobile operator 3 Group, was preparing to bid for the EE or O2 mobile businesses. BT Group is currently in talks with both EE and O2 about a possible takeover. The prospect of cheaper fuel boosted airline shares at first on hopes that fuel bills would be cut. However, some of the early gains were erased. Easyjet was up 1.2%, but shares in British Airways owner IAG were 0.07% lower at the close.
Retail shares rose as the Black Friday sales saw frenzied scenes in UK stores and heavy demand online. Sports Direct shares rose 1.8% and Argos owner Home Retail Group climbed 2.4%. Shares in BT Group were up 4.9p at 410.20p, a rise of 1.2%. On Thursday, the Reuters news agency reported that Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of UK mobile operator 3 Group, was preparing to bid for the EE or O2 mobile businesses. BT Group is currently in talks with both EE and O2 about a possible takeover.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.25% against the dollar to $1.5696 and dropped 0.34% against the euro to €1.2579. Retail shares rose as the Black Friday sales saw frenzied scenes in UK stores and heavy demand online. Sports Direct shares rose 2.5% and Argos owner Home Retail Group climbed 3.09%.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.63% against the dollar to $1.56370 and dropped 0.38% against the euro to €1.2573.