FTSE 100 closes for Christmas down 0.93%

The FTSE 100 fell 0.93 per cent on its last half-day before Christmas.

The index closed at 4,216.59 – a drop of 39.39 points.

At 11:38AM EST (16:38 GMT), the Dow Jones was up 0.40 per cent to 8,453.10.

Markets in Europe held firm – with the Dax down 0.21 per cent and the Cac 40 down 0.39 per cent.

In London, Liberty International lead the gains rising 5.43 per cent.

Man Group was up 4.86 per cent, Schroders Non-Voting rose 4.78 per cent, Hammerson gained 4.01 per cent, and HBOS was up 3.99 per cent.

Leading the festive falls was BT, dropping 5.94 per cent.

Rexam fell 4.98 per cent, Smith & Nephew dropped 4.29 per cent, Legal & General slid 3.93 per cent and 3i Group was down 3.74 per cent.

On the currency markets, sterling was down against the dollar and euro putting £1 at $1.46625 and €1.04935, making €1 worth 95p.