Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - 1410: Shares after tumbling after grim US jobs figures. The number of people losing their jobs rose in June to 467,000, higher than expected, while the unemployment rate rose slightly to 9.5%. WPP (LSE: WPP.L - news) , Schroders (LSE: SDR.L - news) and LSE are leading the market lower. Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) and Friends Provident remain the best of the risers. FTSE 100 down 79 at 4,262.

1200: Footsie (news) remains in the doldrums with buyers sitting on the sidelines. Diageo is the best performer after its restructuring proposals yesterday. Life groups Friends Provident and Legal & General (3166.KL - news) are also going well. WPP, LSE and Lonmin (LSE: LMI.L - news) are propping the index up. FTSE 100 down 34 at 4,306.

0945: London's top stocks are still in the red. The London Stock Exchange is the biggest faller, followed closely by Schroders. WPP Group is also down on a broker downgrade. The major risers so far are Friends Provident, Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO.L - news) and Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L - news) . FTSE 100 is down 36 points to 4305.

0825: London's top stocks have dropped in early dealings Thursday after Wall Street steadily declined from morning highs on Wednesday. Specialist computer and video games retailer Game Group (LSE: GMG.L - news) is leading the FTSE 250 (news) lower after reporting a 15.4% drop in like for like sales. FTSE 100 is down 39 points at 4,301.