FTSE 100 watch: Earnings and retail sales data send Footsie lower

The UK benchmark index has fallen into the red in today’s session, pressured by weak retail sales data, as well as downbeat corporate earnings. Unilever (LON:ULVR) has fallen to the bottom of the FTSE 100 after updating investors on its third-quarter performance.

Footsie under pressure

As of 12:27 BST, the Footsie had given up 35.05 points to stand at 0.46 percent lower at 7,507.82. Market sentiment has been subdued as the Office for National Statistics reported that the UK’s retail sales had fallen 0.8 percent last month, with the news also pressuring the pound.

Downbeat growth data out of China, the world’s top metals consumer, meanwhile has pressured shares in London-listed miners. Anglo American (LON:AAL) is currently leading the sector lower, having lost 1.12 percent to 1,412.00p so far in today’s session.

Individual movers

Unilever has been one of today’s most notable individual movers, with investors selling off shares in the company after the consumer goods giant revealed that poor weather in Europe and natural disasters on the other side of the Atlantic had affected its growth in the third quarter. The group, however, maintained its full-year forecasts. Unilever’s shares are currently changing hands 4.39 percent in the red at 4,349.00p.

London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSE) is also underperforming the broader UK market after the company revealed that its chief executive will step down by the end of next year. The company separately posted a rise in revenues and total income for the three months ended September 30. The shares are 1.10 percent down at 3,877.00p.

The FTSE 100 was 0.49 percent down at 7,505.69 points as of 13:03 BST on Thursday, 19 October 2017.