Market round-up: FTSE 100 falls on weak US GDP but Next receives a boost

The FTSE 100 dipped on 29 April as a result of the weak US GDP figure that grew by just 0.2% in the latest figures – well below the expected 1% growth. It meant the FTSE 100 finished the day some 79.74 lower than the previous, with a final value of 6,946.28.

Dixons Carphone and Unilever were just some of the major players whose share values fell and contributed to the deteriorating worth of the FTSE 100.

On the other hand, it was a day to remember for British retailer Next, which posted better than expected sales that in turn led to its shares rising by 1.67% on the footsie.

Connor Campbell, a market analysis for Spreadex, wrote on his blog: "Despite a relatively low US crude oil inventories figure of 1.9 million barrels causing Brent Crude to cross the $65 per barrel mark, the FTSE's commodity stocks continued to be a burden, and left the FTSE with little chance of a strong midweek showing."

FTSE 100 biggest risers

Weir Group PLC +98.00 (+5.64%) 1,836.00
Next PLC +120.00 (+1.67%) 7,285.00
Royal Mail PLC +6.60 (+1.51%) 444.20
Intercontinental Hotels Group +40.00 (+1.43%) 2,844.00
Randgold Resources +60.00 (+1.19%) 5,095.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Hikma Pharmaceuticals -79.00 (-3.72%) 2,042.00
CRH PLC -69.00 (-3.65%) 1,823.00
Dixons Carphone -13.10 (-3.03%) 418.90
Carnival PLC -92.00 (-3.01%) 2,694.00
Unilever PLC -83.00 (-2.83%) 2,846.00