London midday: Stocks drop as US Treasury acts to block tax inversion deals

UK stocks were firmly lower come midday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, with investors apparently reacting the US Treasury’s move last night to make corporate tax inversions more difficult.

Acting as a backdrop, traders were monitoring the first coalition airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria. Other reports indicated that Israel had shot down a Syrian jet fighter.

As of 12:30 the Footsie was down 93 points to 6,680.48.

The above transpired despite a better-than-expected reading on the Chinese manufacturing sector this morning, despite which economists continue to expect further policy easing from Beijing. Some market commentary was also highlighting the multiple risks to capital markets given the current lofty valuations.

On a more positive note, now that the veil of uncertainty surrounding the Scottish referendum has been lifted companies are moving forward with their plans to list on public markets.

RBS will on Tuesday price the IPO for its US arm, Citizens Financial, a transaction in which it may rise up to $3.5bn.

In parallel, luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo has announced plans to list its share on the London Stock Exchange.

Lloyds is to sell a second tranche of TSB shares now that the lock-up period has expired.

The (US) tax man calls

On Monday evening the US treasury announced a stricter crackdown against 'tax inversion' deals than had been expected.

Inversion deals are takeovers designed to reduce the amount of tax US companies pay by moving their headquarters offshore to lower tax charges.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to announce plans to use a “mansion tax” to increase the budget of NHS spending, The Financial Times reported.

Miliband is determined to attract voters ahead of the May’s general election by promising that houses worth more than £2m will have to pay a tax, which will be used to finance an improved health and social care service.

Labour officials said the tax would raise up to £1.2bn.

The Eurozone’s manufacturing sector purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the month of September has come in at 50.5 (consensus: 50.6).

RBS to price Citizens Financial IPO

RBS is today set to price its initial public offering of Citizens Financial. The lender will is looking to sell 140m shares in its US arm at a price of between $23 and $25.

Shares of AstraZeneca and Shire are leading fallers on the Footsie after the US Treasury moved to make it more difficult for US companies to redomicile abroad to lower their taxes.

In company news, sweetener maker Tate & Lyle blamed severe US weather and the temporary shutdown of a plant in Singapore for higher costs and a profit warning, although it said sales of its flagship Splenda sucralose sweetener were ahead of last year.

Tesco has announced that Alan Stewart will join its board as chief financial officer from Tuesday. Stewart had been appointed at the end of July but was not expect to start in his new role until 1 December, but will instead join Tesco with immediate effect, as the stricken retail giant seeks to ride out its latest financial storm.

Aerospace and defence group Meggitt has been selected by Bell Helicopter to provide gearbox oil level monitoring and chip detection systems for the new 525 Relentless commercial super-medium helicopter. The group estimates that the agreements will generate gross sales of more than $30m over the production life of the helicopter.

Total turnover at soft drinks manufacturer AG Barr grew by 5.4% to £135.7m in the six months ending on 27 July to reach £135.7m, resulting in a 14.6% increase in profit before tax (PBT) to reach £19m. In underlying terms PBT was 11% ahead on the comparable period at £18.4m, with underlying free cash flow generation standing at £11.2m.

Market Movers
techMARK 2,793.57 -2.02%
FTSE 100 6,679.52 -1.39%
FTSE 250 15,540.71 -1.29%

FTSE 100 - Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 772.50p +1.64%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,333.00p +1.59%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,086.00p +0.90%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,740.50p +0.58%
Glencore (GLEN) 342.90p +0.29%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,912.00p -6.08%
AstraZeneca (AZN) 4,348.50p -5.00%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 267.50p -4.05%
Tesco (TSCO) 195.05p -3.92%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,029.00p -3.65%
GKN (GKN) 332.10p -2.92%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 649.50p -2.77%
IMI (IMI) 1,290.00p -2.49%
Meggitt (MGGT) 472.80p -2.48%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,046.00p -2.43%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Polymetal International (POLY) 482.30p +1.94%
Evraz (EVR) 125.70p +1.78%
AL Noor Hospitals Group (ANH) 1,048.00p +1.75%
Centamin (DI) (CEY) 57.90p +1.67%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 436.80p +1.58%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 2,495.00p +1.46%
Just Eat (JE.) 304.00p +1.33%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,471.00p +1.15%
Fidessa Group (FDSA) 2,249.00p +0.94%
Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 637.00p +0.87%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Tate & Lyle (TATE) 612.50p -16.38%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 283.00p -4.71%
Soco International (SIA) 387.00p -4.37%
Bwin.party Digital Entertainment (BPTY) 90.60p -3.77%
Lonmin (LMI) 194.30p -3.76%
Informa (INF) 497.10p -3.66%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 125.30p -3.54%
CSR (CSR) 731.50p -3.50%
Enterprise Inns (ETI) 114.60p -3.45%
Hays (HAS) 120.70p -3.44%