FTSE closes 23.25 points lower
Shares in London closed lower on Friday as investors digested a report on US economic growth that showed a smaller-than-expected contraction but continued weakness in consumer spending.
The FTSE 100 index of leading shares slipped 0.50 percent, ending 23.25 points lower at 4,608.36.
Vodafone was the most widely traded stock, seeing 170 million units change hands, followed by Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) which saw 91.6 million shares switch owners.
British Airways was the biggest winner, up 8.10 pence -- or 6.03 percent -- to finish at 142.40. The airline on Friday posted a heavy pre-tax loss of 148 million pounds, but its share price rallied after Britain's flagship carrier said passenger numbers were slightly improving.
Mining giant Xstrata was also higher, adding 37.10 pence -- or 4.81 percent -- to close at 808.20.
The biggest blue chip casualty was asset management group Standard Life, which shed 9.70 pence -- or 4.67 percent -- to finish at 197.80, followed by oil and gas exploration firm BG Group, which lost 47 pence -- or 4.49 percent -- to end at 999.
Elsewhere, the pound ended higher against the dollar but fell against the euro.
At 4:55 pm, sterling was worth 1.6666 dollars, up from 1.6494 dollars at Thursday's close, while it dropped to 1.1707 euros. It had closed at 1.1725 euros on Thursday.
Copyright 2009  AFP European Edition
