FTSE slips back after briefly striking four-year high
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The FTSE 100 took a small step backwards on Tuesday after the blue-chip index briefly lifted to a four-year high. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: “The FTSE 100 has underperformed despite briefly pushing up to a new four-year high, with the record high at 7,903 remaining tantalisingly just out of reach. “Today’s main drag on the UK benchmark has been the more defensive sectors of healthcare, with some underperformance from some big caps like Unilever, AstraZeneca, and HSBC.” Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: “This looks like a temporary interruption to the index’s victorious progress however – the trading statement season has gone well so far for UK firms, providing a foundation for further gains in the near term.” Across the Atlantic, US traders returned to work with some pessimism, with the key markets slipping on the opening bell after the latest Empire manufacturing survey showed economic activity plunged in January.