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Pound slips on Article 50 news | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The value of the pound slipped as the government said it would officially notify the European Union next Wednesday that the UK is leaving. | |
Sterling had risen against the dollar in morning trade, but the news that Article 50 would be triggered on 29 March sent it lower. | |
By midday, the pound was down 0.1% against the dollar at $1.2387. Against the euro it fell 0.2% to 1.1521 euros. | |
On the stock market, the FTSE 100 was down 7.45 points at 7,417.51. | |
"The pound dropped sharply after we received the news that traders have been waiting for - Theresa May will trigger Article 50 next week," said Neil Wilson at ETX Capital. | |
"Despite the fact it's a known quantity we have to assume that the stark reality of exiting the European Union is hitting home." | |
Among individual shares, oil giant BP fell 1% as the price of oil declined. | |
Primark owner Associated British Foods was the biggest riser in the FTSE 100, up 1.7%, as Goldman Sachs improved its rating on the company to "buy" from "neutral". | |
Shares in Vodafone were unmoved by news that it had merged its Indian mobile business with Cellular, India's third-largest network. The deal will create India's largest mobile operator. Vodafone's shares inched down 0.2% to 211p. | Shares in Vodafone were unmoved by news that it had merged its Indian mobile business with Cellular, India's third-largest network. The deal will create India's largest mobile operator. Vodafone's shares inched down 0.2% to 211p. |