The UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index plunged 1.55% to 6,459.11 on the final trading day of the year on Thursday, ahead of a new era for UK-EU trade after UK MPs overwhelmingly backed the post-Brexit trade deal in a vote yesterday.
Parliament voted 521-73 in favour of the deal, paving the way for the new trade arrangement to come into effect at 11pm on Thursday.
In company news, transport operator FirstGroup (FGP) rose 2.7% to 76p after selling three major properties for a combined $137 million, or £102 million, as the transport company sought to downsize its Greyhound property portfolio.
Housebuilder Countrywide (CWD) jumped 13% to 392p after accepting an improved 395p a share takeover offer from estate agent Connells.
Freight management services Xpediator (XPD:AIM) fell 5.2% to 31.3p after it had entered into an agreement to sell its subsidiary EshopWedrop to Inert Logistics for £0.3 million.
Catalyst Media (CMX:AIM) fell 2% to 50p as the marketing company reported wider annual losses after taking an impairment hit of £1.2 million on the writedown of its investment in Sports Information Services.
CBD company Zoetic International (ZOE) fell 8.9% to 62.8 pence after Path Investments missed the long-stop date to complete the purchase of the company’s 75% stake in DT Ultravert.
Zoetic, however, said it would continue to seek alternative solution to sell its stake in DT Ultravert.
