Shares decline on Wall Street woes

END-OF-DAY REPORT: Headline shares tumbled in the afternoon session, as a raft of bad news hit Wall Street sending US markets sharply lower and hitting sentiment in London, with weak oil and mining shares dragging the FTSE down.

At the close of business, the FTSE100 was down 91.58 points at 5,211.29 with the FTSE250 off 51.71 points at 9,835.08 and the FTSE Smallcaps 6.73 points lower at 2,778.48.

UK retail sales and money supply data came in better than expected, giving sentiment a brief lift this morning, but weakening commodities dragged the main index heavily into negative territory during the afternoon, with a slump on Wall Street also dampening spirits.

In the Midlands, support services and fire protection provider Southern Bear continued to make losses, while Staffordshire clothing manufacturer Slimma also saw a fall.

Aerospace group Hampson Industries again struggled, while property groups St Modwen and Mucklow were also pegged back.

There was better news for Midlands pubcos Punch Taverns , Enterprise Inns and Marston’s , all of which saw small increases. Only Mitchells & Butlers bucked the trend.

Moseley pharmaceutical Henderson Morley made strong gains and Accident Exchange was also in positive territory.

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