London Market Report
- Published
(Close): The London market slipped as traders were said to be wary of making major moves ahead of the Scottish vote on independence.
The FTSE 100 index closed down by 0.2 percent, or 11.34 points, at 6,780.90 points.
Other European markets were higher on hopes that the latest US Fed meeting will not signal any plans for an early rate rise.
Smiths Group shares fell 6% to 1,268p after it reported a fall in profits.
Annual operating profits at the engineering group dropped 10% to £504m.
The company was hit by the strength of sterling and it also saw a fall in sales at its detection unit, which makes airport scanners.
Shares in housebuilders were among the top risers in the FTSE 100, with Barratt Developments up 3.1% at 392p and Persimmon 1.5% higher at 1352p.
In the FTSE 250, shares in JD Sports jumped 4.2% to 425.1p after the retailer reported a big increase in half-year profits.
Pre-tax profit for the 26 weeks to 2 August was £16.45m, compared with £6.09m a year earlier.
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.23% against the dollar to $1.63150 and was up 0.26% against the euro at 1.25930 euros.