The FTSE opened down 0.44% at 5,625.38 despite gains by medical stocks after President Obama's landmark healthcare reforms were passed in the US.
Medical technology provider Smiths Group was up 0.91% to £11.10, with Astrazenica and Reckitt Benckiser also climbing on the news. Barack Obama's healthcare reform bill was last night passed by the House of Representatives. It brings near-universal health coverage to Americans and marks the first major triumph of Obama's presidency. The bill was passed by 219 votes to 212. The biggest loser was Cable & Wireless Communications, down 2.9% to 144p, after demerging its worldwide business. Vedanta Resources and Cairn Energy were also among the losers, down 2.63% and 1.85% respectively. ...
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