Shares flat in early deals
MORNING REPORT: Headline shares were flat in early deals, on a quiet day for company news, with investors cautious as disappointing US data cast doubt on recovery, and with oil producers providing the best and worst FTSE performers.
At 8:30am, the FTSE100 was down just 3.48 points at 5,207.81 with the FTSE250 ahead 2.26 points at 9,837.34 and the FTSE Smallcaps virtually unchanged at 2,778.09.
In early trading in the Midlands, there was better news for struggling manufacturing groups Manganese Bronze and Hampson Industries , both making gains.
Newspaper and website publisher Johnston Press was also in positive territory but support services and fire protection supplier Southern Bear and cooker manufacturer Aga Rangemaster were both pegged back.
Yesterday, 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.
