Weakness in technology and telecoms continues

Blue-chip stocks have continued their unpredictable streak as weakness in the tech and telecom sector sent the London market lower.

With key economic data providing few clues about the direction of the economy, there was little to encourage interest from investors.

The FTSE-100 Index found both positive and negative territory, ending a light session off 46.2 points at 5461.6.

Only the exploits of troubled telecom stock Marconi provided much interest, bouncing back from a new low of 69½p earlier in the day.

Marconi leapt 6% despite continued concern over the group's profit and debt levels.

It eventually settled up just half a penny at 71¾p as the whole telecoms sector took a knock late in the afternoon.

Other fallers included Colt Telecom, down 15p to 283p, Cable & Wireless, off 7p to 333p, and Energis, 3¾p cheaper at 94¼p.

Telewest led the Footsie fallers' board with a drop of 5p to 70p, while market heavyweight Vodafone dipped 4¼p to 136½p and BT fell 9p to 448p.

Fortunes were little better in the tech sector as gains earlier in the week became a distant memory.

Chip designer Arm Holdings fell 13¾p to 289¼p, software company Sage dipped 6¾p to 207¼p and Logica shed 22p to 680p.