FTSE 100 eased lower after a bright start with the mood soured by a slump in US tech stocks overnight in spite of decent UK economic data. London’s blue-chip index dropped 9 to 7,251.
HSBC has been fined £64mln for anti-money laundering failings. The Financial Conduct Authority said it had found that three key parts of HSBC's transaction monitoring systems showed serious weaknesses over an eight-year period from 2010 to 2018.
Retail sales jumped in November thanks to a Black Friday boost. Volumes were 7.2% higher last month than at the start of the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics, indicating a bounce back from the pandemic.
The UK house price boom will end in 2022, according to Halifax. It believes that British house prices will increase around 1% in 2022, after surging around 8% during 2021.
Bidstack shares jumped on news of a partnership with Azerion for the next two years. Bidstack also predicted 2022 would mark the commercial breakthrough for in-game advertising.
Westminster has won a contract to design, supply and install advanced screening and surveillance equipment in two airports in Southeast Africa. The contract, which is valued at US$1.7mln, was awarded after a competitive tender process.
Seraphim Space Investment Trust has completed the purchase of two holdings from its privately owned sister fund for £28.1mln. The purchase takes its portfolio to 21 space-tech companies.