Slow start for FTSE

A major deal in the housebuilding sector ensured the second-tier FTSE 250 Index stole a march on its top flight counterpart today.

While the FTSE 100 Index stood 1.8 points lower at 6309.1, the FTSE 250 rose 45.9 points to 11389.2 after shares in Barratt Developments gained in the wake of its proposed £2.2 billion acquisition of Wilson Bowden.