Weakened dollar prompts FTSE stumble

A takeover bid for Scottish Power and the dramatic appointment of a new boss at ITV failed to lift the London market today as a weakening US dollar continued to take its toll.

The FTSE 100 Index fell 24.2 points to 6025.9 today leaving it well below a five-and-a-half-year high of 6254 less than two weeks ago.