This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30585665

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
FTSE 100 rally continues Shares in London close higher
(about 4 hours later)
(Noon): The FTSE 100 continued its pre-Christmas rally, but outside the main index shares in Thorntons dived by a quarter after it issued a profit alert. (Close): The FTSE 100 closed with a modest gain, but outside the main index shares in Thorntons dived after it issued a profit alert.
Thorntons sank 26.75p to 91.5p after the chocolate maker said this year's profits would be below last year. Thorntons sank 21% after the chocolate maker said this year's profits would be below last year's.
The benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 24.07 points at 6,600.81. The benchmark FTSE 100 index finished 9 points higher at 6,585.93.
However, the index gave up some of its earlier gains after the UK current account deficit rose to £27bn, or 6% of GDP, in the third quarter.However, the index gave up some of its earlier gains after the UK current account deficit rose to £27bn, or 6% of GDP, in the third quarter.
Official figures also revised down the annual rate of GDP growth in the third quarter to 2.6% from 3%. The size of the current account deficit, which is the gap between exports and imports, surprised many economists.
Supermarket shares were in demand, with Tesco up 2.7% and Morrisons 2.4% higher. Also, official figures also revised down the annual rate of GDP growth in the third quarter to 2.6% from 3%.
On the currency markets, the pound fell 0.2% against the dollar to $1.5553 and was also 0.2% lower against the euro at €1.2723. That data helped undermine the pound which fell by almost a cent against the dollar to $1.55150.
The pound was a touch lower against the euro at €1.27440.
"GDP is just kind of an early marker for the problems the pound may face next year, although the market is very thin before Christmas," said Simon Derrick, head of currency research at Bank of New York Mellon in London.
On the stock market, supermarket shares were in demand, with Tesco up 1.7% and Morrisons 2.5% higher.