London Market Report

(Close): The FTSE 100 closed lower on Thursday, despite a strong crop of results from blue-chip companies.

Overall, the FTSE index was down 43.33 points or 0.64% at 6,730.11.

Shares in the banking group Schroders were the biggest decliners, down more then 4%, after it reported weaker than expected revenues.

Royal Dutch Shell's A and B shares performed best, both rising more than 2%, after the firm said its second-quarter profits had more than doubled.

Telecoms company BT Group added 0.15% after posting first-quarter results in line with forecasts, with revenue up 0.5% at £4.4bn.

Energy firm BG Group fell back after making early gains. It reported an 11% rise in second-quarter profit.

On the currency markets, the pound was down 0.16% against the dollar at $1.6887, and down 0.1% against the euro at 1.2613 euros.