The FTSE 100 opened in the red on Wednesday, failing to follow gains seen in the US after late earnings from tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet.
Back in the UK, Lloyds fell early on despite reporting a better-than-expected third-quarter profit of £1.89 billion this morning, alongside a reduction in bad debt.
Consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser also slipped as the market opened, as news of a £1 billion buy-back came with reports that net revenue declined over the third quarter on foreign exchange headwinds.
Boohoo shares rose meanwhile, after Mike Ashley’s Frasers continued on a spree of buying into the online retailer, lifting its stake this morning to 16.5%.
Elsewhere Porsche shone optimism on the global car sector, as it updated that supply chain woes had eased this year, helping to lift sales and operating profit.
And finally with the small caps, Creo Medical rose early on after reporting its Speedboat UltraSlim surgical device had been fast-tracked for release in the European Union.