FTSE 100 opened lower as investors tried to work out the implications of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. The blue-chip index dropped 55 to 7,163 with mixed economic data from China adding to the unease.
House prices have fallen for the first time this year, according to property website Rightmove. Average prices in August fell 0.3% or £1,076 and all due to less demand at the top end said the website.
Royal Mail has been snubbed by the Post Office which has signed up French-owned DPD to carry out its online deliveries. In December, Post Office freed itself from a long-term agreement that forced it to use Royal Mail and Parcelforce.
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY) (LSE:LLOY)’s new chief executive Charlie Nunn has started work today. William Chalmers, who has been interim group chief executive for the past three and a half months, will revert to his former role as chief financial officer said the bank.
Among the small caps, BlueRock Diamonds PLC (LON:BRD) has discovered a 58.6 carat diamond at the Kareevlei mine in South Africa. It will be sold in an August tender.
88 Energy Ltd (AIM:88E, ASX:88E) (AIM:88E) confirmed the presence of light oil at the Merlin project in Alaska. The oil firm is now planning an appraisal well.
Cellular Goods PLC (LSE:CBX, FRA:6XS) (LSE:CBX, FRA:6XS) has signed an agreement with Chanelle McCoy Health to bring forward the launch of products to 2021. The pair have developed three CBD ingestibles for the wellness market.