FTSE fails to ignite in early trading

The FTSE 100 Index struggled to make headway today after poor data in the United States fuelled worries over the pace of economic recovery.

Reports on manufacturing and home sales released on Friday pushed US stocks lower for a third day and triggered a sell-off in Asian markets today. The Nikkei closed more than 2% lower as a sharp strengthening in Asian currencies hurt confidence among the region’s exporters.