Takeovers fail to boost FTSE

A swirl of takeover activity among blue-chips failed to prevent the London market retreating from six-and-a-half year highs today.

The FTSE 100 Index was 32.3 points down at 6571.4 at mid-morning, as overnight caution in US and Asian markets saw London’s leading shares slip back through the 6,600 barrier breached in the previous session.