The FTSE 100 slopes underneath the 7,000 mark, down 0.7% at 6,972.62, as a number of stocks trade ex-dividend and after mixed trading on major exchanges overnight.
Pay TV broadcaster Sky (SKY) ticks up 1.9% to 881.2p posts a more than 5% rise in like-for-like revenue in the first quarter of its financial year.
Mining firm BHP Billiton (BLT) is down 4.5% to £11.83 after being forced to defend itself against acquisitions of tax evasion by former Australian treasurer Wayne Swan.
North Sea oil producer EnQuest (ENQ) falls 4.5% to 26.5p as it announces a financial restructuring plan to relieve pressure on a strained balance sheet. This includes an £82m placing at 23p.
Home shopping outfit Findel (FDL) is up 3.5% to 210p as it reports first half sales up 6% on a like-for-like basis and confirms guidance for the full year.
Micro cap miner Goldstone Resources (GRL:AIM) is down 14.7% at 1.92p on a legal claim by a former director. The sum being pursued would swallow up a significant chunk of its current cash,
Small cap software firm Crimson Tide (TIDE:AIM) gains 12.4% to 3.18p as it signs 'its most significant long term contract with a large UK retailer' for its mmpro5 product - used to ensure in-store safety, cleanliness and security. The work is worth £1.7m over the next 48 months.
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