Improved PMI figures helped blue-chip share recover after starting under pressure today following disappointing readings on service sector activity in China and Europe.
The August PMI reading from S&P Global and CIPs still showed the private sector in decline, but was up from the initial ‘flash’ reading.
Plant hire firm Ashtead was among the biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 index, despite reporting a record quarter of trading.
Investors also dumped grocery stocks after JP Morgan downgraded its recommendations on Tesco and B&M European Value Retail.
