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Circle shares dive on hospital move Circle shares dive on hospital move
(about 2 hours later)
(Open): Shares in Circle Holdings dived by more than a quarter after it said it was pulling out of the contract to run Hinchingbrooke hospital. (Noon): Shares in Circle Holdings dived by nearly a quarter after it said it was pulling out of the contract to run Hinchingbrooke hospital.
Circle was the first private healthcare firm to run an NHS hospital trust, but it said the contract was "no longer sustainable" because of funding cuts and increased demand for A&E services.Circle was the first private healthcare firm to run an NHS hospital trust, but it said the contract was "no longer sustainable" because of funding cuts and increased demand for A&E services.
The FTSE 100 index was down 8.64 points at 6,561.32 in early trade. In lunchtime trade, the FTSE 100 index was down 38.47 points at 6,531.49.
Shares in housebuilders were hit by downgrades from broker Jefferies.Shares in housebuilders were hit by downgrades from broker Jefferies.
The company said shares in the sector were likely to be weak in the first quarter of the year following signs of the slowdown in the market.The company said shares in the sector were likely to be weak in the first quarter of the year following signs of the slowdown in the market.
It downgraded its ratings on Barratt Developments, Berkeley and Persimmon to "underperform".It downgraded its ratings on Barratt Developments, Berkeley and Persimmon to "underperform".
Shares in Barratt Developments fell 3.6%, Persimmon dropped 3.4% and Berkeley was 3% lower. Shares in Barratt Developments fell 4.6%, Persimmon dropped 3.7% and Berkeley was 3.6% lower.
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.12% against the dollar to $1.5107, and edged up 0.02% against the euro to €1.2799. Investors are waiting for the latest set of US jobs figures due out later. Analysts are expecting the US economy to have added about 240,000 jobs last month.
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.4% against the dollar to $1.5150, and climbed 0.26% against the euro to €1.2829.