Shares end the day lower

END-OF-DAY REPORT: Headline shares ended the day modestly lower, with well-received interim results from fashion retailer Next insufficient to create more general goodwill and Wall Street offering no inspiration after mixed data.

At the close of business, the FTSE100 was down 11.85 points at 5,555.56 with the FTSE250 up 21.83 points at 10,494.27 and the FTSE Smallcaps 16.19 points better at 2,925.32.

NEW YORK

US stocks were mixed in late morning trade following a mixed batch of economic news.

LONDON MARKETS

Trading in London was quiet and cautious, with unemployment figures arriving on the disappointing side, and with a muted start in New York offering no support.

In the Midlands, Accident Exchange and mortgage group Paragon fared well but home technology firm JSJS Designs slumped by more than 16%.

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