RAMSEY CROOKALL

19th  August

Evening Report

 The FTSE fell for a third consecutive session, as growth fears continued to weigh on banks, energy stocks and other sectors that are sensitive to the economy, while shares of Autonomy Corp. soared on news of it s deal with Hewlett-Packard.

Financial shares were once again among the biggest fallers on the benchmark index, with Lloyds Banking Group PLC down 5.3% and Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC  down 4.3%. Banks were also lower across the rest of Europe as funding problems have joined the long list of worries for the sector.

Shares in Autonomy rocketed by over 75% in early trading after US computing giant Hewlett-Packard made a recommended offer for the Cambridge-based software firm, valuing it at around £7.09bn.

Shareholders at FTSE 250 bus and rail transport firm Stagecoach celebrated after the firm announced that they are to pocket £340m as part of a proposed one-off return of cash. It has managed to stay in the fast lane today despite the slide.

BSkyB fell after the Competition Commission provisionally determined that satellite broadcaster's control over the pay-TV film rights in the UK is restricting competition between pay-TV providers, leading to higher prices and reduced choice and innovation for subscribers.

THE FTSE 100 closed                   Down          5        @       5040

THE DOW JONES at 16:45                Down          45       @       10945                        NASDAQ COM at 16:45                   Up            2        @       2382                                Commodities Spot Gold $/Oz           $1850 Brent Crude Oil          $108.30 September Delivery     Exchange Rates GBP – USD           1.6548 GBP - EURO         1.1491