Pound down, shares up
London's main benchmark fell as traders eyed the results of Bank of England tests on the strength of the UK’s major banks later this week iStock

Blue chip shares fell in afternoon trading after bank shares slipped as nervous traders eyed the results of Bank of England tests on the strength of the UK's major banks later this week.

The FTSE 100 Index fell 32.7 points to 6808, as heavyweight bank stocks slipped ahead of the Bank's annual stress tests of the UK's six major banks on Wednesday (30 November). The FTSE 250 Index fell 95.7 points to 17507.8.

Royal Bank of Scotland fell 3.8p to 197.7p, Barclays was 3.8p lower at 211.8p and Lloyds Banking Group was 1p down at 57.8p.

Spreadex financial analyst Connor Campbell said shareholders in these major banks were "spooked" in part by the prospect of Wednesday's stress test results.

In afternoon trading the biggest risers in the FTSE 100 Index were Centrica (+5.5p to 209.6p), SSE (+31p to 1495p), Fresnillo (+26p to 1258p), Randgold Resources (+120p to 5840p) and Polymetal International (+15p to 760.5p).

The biggest fallers in the FTSE 100 Index were Next (-145p to 4806p), Marks & Spencer (-6.4p to 328.8p), Royal Bank of Scotland (-3.8p to 197.7p), CRH (-51p to 2660p) and BT Group (-6.3p to 352.6p).

In afternoon trading the biggest risers in the FTSE 250 Index were Capital & Counties Properties (+17.7p to 282p), JD Sports (+12p to 331.3p), CYBG (+10p to 281.6p), Domino's Pizza Group (+8.5p to 355.4p) and Pennon Group (+11.5p to 828.5p).

The biggest fallers in the FTSE 250 Index were Evraz (-14.5p to 240.5p), Man Group (-5.5p to 118.3p), Pets at Home Group (-8.7p to 214p), Halma (-36.5p to 933.5p) and P2P Global Investments (-27p to 745p).