The FTSE 100 index of Britain's largest shares fell to its lowest close in seven weeks on Monday as the sliding dollar continued to weigh on stocks with US exposure.
Shares in building materials company Hanson ended down 2.9 percent, leading a pack of companies whose sales become less valuable as the currency of their key market weakens, or which report in US dollars, devaluing their earnings. "Undoubtedly the dollar is something which is bowling its way through the equity markets," said Peter Dickson, economist at Commerzbank.
"The general view is that companies with a high dollar exposure will have problems with regard to their earnings next year, and that is what is causing the fall, particularly on this side of the Atlantic."
European shares fell to a five-week low on Monday as the dollar remained near a 20-month low against the euro, and as Wall Street fell sharply, showing a two-day leap in volatility since the dollar began its latest descent on Friday. The FTSE 100 ended down 72 points, or 1.18 percent, at 6,050.1, with 95 of its stocks ending lower.
DSGI International, Europe's biggest electricals retailer, fell 3.2 percent to 195 pence, its lowest level in over three months, as traders cited continued disappointment about the company's sales results last Wednesday.
Shares in BAE Systems fell 3.1 percent to 391 pence after the Daily Telegraph said on Monday that the government of Saudi Arabia might hand BAE's Eurofighter contract to France's Dassault.
Meanwhile, Software company Sage Group dropped 2.4 percent to 240-1/4p as two recent acquisitions have increased its exposure to the dollar ahead of its full-year results on Wednesday, traders say.
Shares in Anglo-Dutch steel and aluminium company Corus Group slipped 1.1 percent after the company said it would adjourn an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to allow Brazilian steelmaker CSN more time to consider a counterbid to Tata Steel's offer. Electricity stocks traded lower, with Drax losing 3.2 percent and International Power falling 1.8 percent.
Among mining stocks, Lonmin dropped 3 percent on a decline in the price of platinum and as traders said hopes subsided that an exchange-traded fund (ETF) may be launched for the metal.
On the upside, ITV led the FTSE 100's list of gainers, up 1.1 percent, as traders predicted further bid interest after BSkyB bought a spoiling stake in the commercial broadcaster to counter an approach by rival NTL. BSKYB added 0.5 percent.
Elsewhere, pub owner Enterprise Inns added 0.6 percent following a UBS upgrade. Positive sentiment in the travel and leisure sector was also boosted after small-cap stock First Choice Holidays, which rose 13 percent, said it was in talks with a number of parties over the possible sale of its package holiday business.
Housebuilder Wilson Bowden rose 14.6 percent after it confirmed it was in preliminary discussions with a number of parties regarding a possible offer for the company, news which perked up rival Persimmon, which gained 0.4 percent.
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