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LONDON (AFP) – London shares ended lower on Friday as Moody's slashed its credit rating on Ireland and new figures on Spanish debt were released.

The FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 0.16 percent at 5,871.75 points.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) was the most traded stock, seeing 292 million shares switch owners, followed by the Royal Bank of Scotland which saw 233 million units change hands.

Software firm Autonomy Corp Group was the top blue-chip performer, adding 78 pence -- or 5.32 percent -- to end at 1,543 followed by Man Group, which rose 6.50 pence -- or 2.26 percent -- to finish at 294.

Drugs company Astrazeneca brought up the rear, shedding 212 pence -- or 6.72 percent -- to end at 2941, followed by the Royal Bank of Scotland which was down 2.3 pence -- or 5.73 percent -- at 37.82.

Meanwhile, the pound fell against the dollar and the euro.

At 17:06 GMT, sterling was trading at 1.548 dollars, down from 1.560 the same time on Thursday, while the currency fell to 1.176 euros from 1.181 over the same period.

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LONDON (AFP) – London shares ended in the red on Thursday as debt concerns continued to plague investor sentiments.

The FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 0.2 percent at 5,881.12 points.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) was the most traded stock, seeing 83 million shares switch owners, followed by Vodafone which saw 66.3 million units change hands.

Serco Group was the top blue-chip performer, adding 23.50 pence -- or 4.10 percent -- to end at 597, followed by GKN, which rose 6.30 pence -- or 3.04 percent -- to finish at 213.8.

Antofagasta brought up the rear, shedding 32 pence -- or 2.05 percent -- to end at 1528, followed by Fresnillo which was down 30 pence -- or 1.93 percent -- at 1525.

Meanwhile, the pound rose against the dollar and the euro.

At 17:05 GMT, sterling was trading at 1.5601 dollars, climbing from 1.5544 from the same time on Wednesday, while the currency reached 1.1814 euros, ascending from 1.1764 over the same period.

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LONDON (AFP) – The London stock exchange slumped on Friday as investors reacted to disappointing jobs data from the United States.

The FTSE 100 index lost 0.39 percent at 5,745.32 points.

Lloyds Banking Group (LGB) was the most traded stock, seeing 130 million shares switch owners, followed by Royal Bank of Scotland which saw 98.8 million units change hands.

Fresnillo was the top blue-chip performer, adding 60 pence -- or 3.98 percent -- to end at 1568 pence, followed by Johnson Matthey which rose 59 pence -- or 3.16 percent -- to finish at 1926 pence.

Man Group led the fallers, shedding 9.60 percent -- or 3.33 pence -- to end at 279.1 pence, followed by Sage Group which was down 9.20 pence -- or 3.18 percent -- at 279.8 pence.

Meanwhile, the pound rose against the dollar but lost to the euro.

At 17:04 GMT, sterling was trading at 1. 5732, down from 1.5600 dollars at the same time on Thursday, while the currency stood at 1.764 euros, up from 1.1810 over the same period.

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LONDON (AFP) – The London stock exchange slumped on Friday, as shares came under pressure from concerns over eurozone debt.

The FTSE 100 index lost 0.53 percent to finish at 5,668.70 points.

The index finished the day lower as investors feared Ireland's problems would spread even though Spain ruled out any chance of an Irish-style rescue and Portugal said it was under no pressure either.

Lloyds Banking Group (LGB) was the most traded stock, seeing 203 million shares switch owners, followed by Royal Bank of Scotland which saw 138 million units change hands.

Capital Shopping Centres Group was the top blue-chip performer, adding 20 pence -- or 5.25 percent -- to end at 401 pence, followed by BT group which rose 7.30 pence -- or 4.37 percent -- to finish at 174.2 pence.

The Royal Bank of Scotland led the fallers, shedding 5.31 percent -- or 2.17 pence -- to end at 38.69 pence, followed by Lloyds Banking Group which was down 2.85 pence -- or 4.40 percent -- at 61.85 pence.

Meanwhile, the pound slipped against the dollar but rose against the euro.

At 17:30 GMT, sterling was trading at 1. 5617, down from 1.5779 dollars at the same time on Thursday, while the currency stood at 1.7999 euros, up from 1.1790 over the same period.

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U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner speaks with the Minister of French finance Christine Lagarde to the g-20. He wants that countries commit to specific commercial plugs. Photo: EPA

With China resolutely refusing the yuan to rise more quickly, the United States has moved the discussion on the first day of the G20 Summit to address trade imbalances, the issue of root behind the confrontation of exchange rate.

Timothy Geithner, US Treasury, said Secretary G20 members that they must commit to specific commercial plugs, allowing the surpluses and deficits in their account current, widest is exchanges of goods and services, not more than the gross domestic product 4pc.

China's current account surplus has been 5 9pc in 2009, with almost half of its peak 10 6pc in 2007.United States, on the other hand, had a deficit of 3pc last year.

In a letter addressed to G20, Mr. Geithner claimed a "collaborative effort" on the issue, but he said it should be "exceptions" for countries which have imported large quantities of raw materials.

The u.s. strategy was seen as a way to side-step a direct confrontation on the monnaies.Elle was supported by United Kingdom Korea, Australia and the Canada, but opposition from large exporters such as the Japan and the Germany immediately.

Rainer Bruederle, Minister of finance Germany rejected approach "command economy", while the Japan Noda Yoshihiko said "setting numerical targets would be unrealistic.

The India also stated that trade plugs would be hard at work, while the Russia stated that there is no numerical limits set in the final Declaration of the Summit.

Mr. Geithner has also called for g-20 countries to refrain from "weakening of their currency or preventing an undervalued currency appreciation" Mr. Geithner, also called the IMF monitored the G20 commitments added: "Advanced G20 countries ensure to against excess volatility and disorderly movement in exchange rates.

Guido Mantega, Minister of finance Brazilian, who was not of the G20 Summit also revealed that Mr. Geithner had called him to reassure that the United States had no intention of allowing the dollar weakened further.

"It guarantees us policy is not to weaken the dollar, on the contrary, it is to strengthen the dollar,", said Mantega."He said that the impact of the policy of the Federal Reserve has be overestimated .c ' is difficult, if you weaken the dollar and the Chinese to let the yuan appreciate", he added.

The comments of Mr. Mantega helped move the dollar against the euro of $1.3918 euro at $1.3895 prior undermining later in the dollar journée.Le also stabilized as a whole against the Japanese yen.

However, as the first day of closed meetings, there was little sign that currency problems could be resolved.

With certain growing scepticism that the g-20 is an instance sufficiently targeted at overcoming the global economic problems, Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President, welcomes the Summit, warned Ministers only if they have not reached a compromise "we do not operate bus, train or plane services you back".

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