he FTSE 100 launched into troubled waters on Thursday because it under-performed towards most of its worldwide friends.

The high index in London was pulled down by the efficiency of Thames Water, which is dealing with questions on whether or not it would must be positioned into particular administration.

The enterprise’s woes turned gazes to the remainder of the UK’s utilities sector, pushing shares in listed water corporations decrease.

By the top of the day, Severn Trent and Pennon Group’s shares had dropped 3.5%, whereas United Utilities noticed a 2.8% fall.

“The increased media focus on Thames Water’s problems and a possible nationalisation, has shifted the balance of risks towards the entire sector,” mentioned CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

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“It has also brought a sharper focus over how these water companies spend their money, and could be regulated in the future, with criticism over leaky pipes and sewage discharges invites greater regulation.”

Although not the one struggling corporations, their fall helped push the FTSE 100 down by 0.4%, or 28.8 factors to 74,71.69.

The FTSE lagged behind its rivals. Germany’s Dax index was buying and selling flat, whereas Paris’s Cac 40 was up 0.4%.

In New York, the S&P 500 was 0.4% increased shortly after European markets closed, whereas the Dow Jones was up 0.9%.

The pound had dropped 0.1% to 1.262 {dollars} by the top of the day.

In firm news, retailer B&M noticed its shares shoot to the underside of the FTSE 100, down 6.5%, after the enterprise revealed its outcomes for the primary three months of the monetary yr.

Revenue was up 13.5% and gross sales within the UK had been 11.3% increased.

Mr Hewson mentioned: “Today’s share price weakness may have more to do with the fact that the shares traded at their best levels since February 2022 yesterday, amidst disappointment that management decided not to upgrade guidance.”

Elsewhere, Moonpig reported a 5.2% rise in income to £320 million, however mentioned that income had been put below stress by rising prices.

The enterprise mentioned that under-pressure clients are sending fewer playing cards and selecting cheaper presents.

But it upped costs, that means that the common order worth rose from £7.70 to £8.20. Shares within the enterprise had been up 3.8%.

The largest risers on the FTSE 100 had been Barclays, up 2.98p to 151.32p, Ocado, up 10.4p to 540.2p, 3i, up 29p to 1,910.5p, Standard Chartered, up 9p to 677.6p, and Glencore, up 4.4p to 438.4p.

The largest fallers on the FTSE 100 had been B&M European, down 38.6p to 552p, Rentokil, down 29.8p to 600.8p, Rolls-Royce, down 7.1p to 148.7p, WPP, down 34.4p to 816.8p, and Tesco, down 9p to 246.9p.