The FTSE 100 dipped by 0.3% to 6,784 as European and Asian markets barely moved on Wednesday.
“Investors were waiting patiently for the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting, which is expected to see the central bank upgrade its forecasts for the US economy,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
“It tends to be the case on Fed Wednesdays, the markets were cautious-to-negative out on the gate,” Connor Campbell, financial analyst at Spreadex, added.
“The spotlight is going to be put on the issue by this evening’s Federal Reserve meeting, and Thursday’s Bank of England chaser,” Campbell said.
FTSE 100 Top Movers
BT was the top riser (5.22%) on Wednesday morning after its mobile and internet service provider EE won a new 5G spectrum in an auction, followed by Rolls-Royce (3.32%) and RELX Group (2.44%).
The day’s top fallers so far are Evraz (-3.10%), Anglo American (-2.65%) and Johnson Matthey (-2.36%).
Dignity
Dignity confirmed a £19.6m loss last year even though the number of deaths soareddue to the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic. The company confirmed the total number of deaths for the year to 25 December was 663,000, up by 14% from 2019, and the highest since 1918.
Dignity organised a record breaking 80,300 funerals last year, nearly 11,000 more than the year before.
Hostleworld
Hostelworld (LON:HSW) swung to a loss as the company’s bookings dropped by 79% during the past year. The Dublin-based accommodation provider also reported a €17.3 million loss at ebitda level, down from €20.5 million profit in 2019. Net annual revenue fell by 81% from €80.7 million to €15.4 million in 2020.
