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Ex-dividend firms drag down FTSE 100 Ex-dividend firms drag down FTSE 100
(about 4 hours later)
(Open): London's leading shares fell in early Thursday trading, dragged down by companies going ex-dividend. (Noon): London's leading shares fell in Thursday morning trading, dragged down by companies going ex-dividend.
One of them, National Grid, which owns the UK's power transmission lines, was the biggest loser on the FTSE 100, shedding 4.6%. National Grid and WPP shed 4.9% and 3.5% respectively after ending dividend payments to shareholders.
WPP, the world's biggest advertising group, also went ex-dividend, sending its shares down 2.4%. Overall, the benchmark FTSE 100 share index was down 88.62 points, or 1.28%, at 6,861.84.
Overall, the benchmark FTSE 100 share index was down 38.6 points, or 0.56%, at 6,911.86. Outside the 100-share index, price comparison websites Moneysupermarket and Zoopla fell 8.5% and 4.7% on fears of a competition probe.
Low-cost airline Easyjet was among the top gainers, rising 1.6% on the strength of its latest passenger numbers. Energy watchdog Ofgem says it is looking into "whether two or more companies providing a supporting service for the energy industry have breached competition law".
Low-cost airline Easyjet was among the top gainers, rising 1% on the strength of its latest passenger numbers.
The airline said it carried 7.2% more passengers in May than in the same month in 2014.The airline said it carried 7.2% more passengers in May than in the same month in 2014.
On the currency markets, the pound was barely moved against the dollar at $1.5330 and up 0.1% against the euro at €1.3620. On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.5% against the dollar to $1.5417 and fell 0.2% against the euro to €1.3580.