FTSE 100 Index falls 0.7 per cent

Yesterday (October 13th) the FTSE 100 Index retreated 0.7 per cent to close 38.42 points down, while the FTSE 250 declined by 89.48 to finish at 10,230.52 points, stock market investors may be interested to learn.

The UK markets dipped after disappointing import and export figures for September were published by China.

As well as the data from the Asian nation, the debt crisis in Europe may also have contributed to the subdued activity on trading floors.

Speaking to Reuters, Mike McCudden, head of retail derivatives at Interactive Investor, asserted: "The hot air that has lifted these markets of late, based largely on more sustained confidence in our eurozone leaders executing a plan, is quite bewildering."

However, some firms did advance, including Rolls-Royce, the shares of which rose to an all-time high following the completion of a deal with American firm Pratt & Witney.

At 08:22 BST today, the FTSE 100 had risen by 0.09 per cent, reaching 5,408.48 points.

Posted by Greg Secker