London stocks closed in the red on Friday, with the FTSE 100 falling for a third straight session as sentiment remains fragile. The UK blue-chip index slid 0.3% to finish at 7,572.58. The domestically-focused midcap FTSE 250 index also lost ground, dipping 0.2% to 19,062.32 and the AIM All-Share lost 0.5%, closing at 747.41.
Among individual movers, Fresnillo was one of the worst FTSE 100 performers, with shares in the gold miner tumbling 3.4% as precious metal prices weakened.
Packaging company DS Smith and housebuilder Redrow outperformed, climbing 2.5% and 0.3% respectively, building on recent gains after becoming the subject of M&A interest.
Barclays agreed to acquire the retail banking operations of Tesco Bank for around £600 million. Tesco will retain other profitable parts of its financial services business such as insurance, ATMs, travel money and gift cards. HSBC shares declined 1.3%, weighing down the blue chips.
On the AIM-listed market, drug developer Evgen Pharma saw its shares plunge 22%. The company said it has not received the expected payments from partner Stalicla. Evgen issued a dispute notice, though noted the missed payments do not change its cash runway forecasts.
FTSE All-Share Gainers
Cab Payments 9.8%, Watches Switz 5.75%, Vipera 5.43%, Invesco Sel. Uk 4.75%, Schroder Income Growth Fund 4.02%, Topps Tiles 3.98%, Ceres Power 3.75%, Middlefield Prf 3.53%, Avon Protection 3.47%, Pharos Energy 3.4%.
FTSE All-Share Fallers
Close Bros -8.59%, S & U -7.86%, James Fisher and Sons -7.22%, Superdry -5.19%, Metro Bank -4.95%, Kin and Carta -4.78%, Regional Reit -4.7%, Pollen Street -4.47%, Severfield -4.26%, Brown Advisory -4.04%.
