Financial services hit as investors leave UK blue-chip positions

Moves on the UK’s top share index remained subdued today as the large caps headed towards a slight decline for the month, while shares in outsourcer Capita tanked after issuing a profit warning.

Yesterday investors reacted to a drop in global equities by cashing in their UK positions in a trend that saw Standard Chartered fell nearly 2.9 per cent to 814.1p, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust shed 2.8 per cent at 463.4p and Barclays was down by 2.8 per ecnt at 201.75p.

Royal Bank of Scotland dropped 8.2p to £2.92 after ratings agency Moody’s said it was reviewing the bank for a downgrade in light of the likely impact of ring-fencing regulations.

Moody’s expects to complete its review by April this year.

Shares in oil giant BP tumbled 1.5 per cent, or 7.7p to 507.9p after it said it was trialling mobile charging points for electric vehicles at its UK forecourts this year.

Kingfisher fell 4.1p to £3.51 on news its B&Q business is axing 200 head office jobs.

Today saw outsourcer Capita tumble more than 44 percent, on track for its biggest ever one-day loss, after the company issued a profit warning, suspended its dividend and announced a rights issue.