The FTSE 100 trades almost 0.9% lower in early trading at 6,380 points. The index has been hit by disappointing earnings from some of its largest constituents. One such company is Barclays (BARC) where shares trade 4.9% lower at 240.6p as third quarter adjusted pre-tax profits fell 10.2% year-on-year to £1.4 billion. Fines for rigging the foreign exchange rate and US mortgage mis-selling continue to bite into the bank’s earnings.

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) slips 1% to £17.25 as its third quarter resultsdisappoint. A $1.8 billion profit was some way below consensus of $2.6 billion, in part reflecting a $400 million loss in its upstream division.

Elsewhere artificial joint, sports medicine and wound care specialist Smith & Nephew (SN.) falls 5.5% to £10.87. Sales of $1.1 billion missed expectations in the three months to 26 September.

Digital payments platform Optimal Payments (OPAY:AIM) tumbles 13% to 301p on allegations a 'material amount' of its customer data is publicly accessible online. Optimal says customer records may have been compromised in its legacy unit Neteller as well as Skrill, which Optimal paid €1.1 billion to acquire in August. Similar breaches occurred in 2009 and 2010 in both divisions, the company says, which it claims were the result of cyber-attacks.

Falkland Islands oil explorer Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL:AIM) dives 32.9% to 13.6p as its deep water Humpback exploration well failed to find sufficient hydrocarbonsto be commercial.

Premium drinks minnow Distil (DIS:AIM) froths up 14.4% to 1.03p as investors cheer pleasing interims - sales up the best part of 90% and losses reduced - and a confident outlook statement. Distil also cheers with news its RedLeg Spiced Rum tipple has beenlisted by a major UK grocer in 700 of its biggest UK stores in time for Christmas.

Struggling keyhole surgery tool-maker Surgical Innovations (SUN:AIM) shoots up 17.4% to 1.3p after turnaround specialist and new chairman Nigel Rogersbought a million shares in the company.

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Issue Date: 29 Oct 2015