FTSE ends last day of the year down

Profit-takers caused the London market to fall back today, yet failed to lessen the shine of a better-than-expected year for the FTSE 100 Index.

The Footsie closed at 5618.8 – down 19.5 points from te previous session’s four-and-a-half year high of 5638.3 but up 16.7% for the year.