The banks might have helped lift the FTSE 100 yesterday, but today, they are dragging on the index of 100 leading shares, which is down 29.8 points at 5916.8.
Barclays posted its full year results this morning, and as anticipated, there was a 10% dividend hike.
Profits were in line at £7.1bn, and the bank increased its write-down on the value of risky assets to £1.6bn.
Shares are down 6.5p at 453.5p, and renewed concern over the credit crunch has dragged on the sector. Alliance & Leicester is down 14.5p at 531p, and Lloyds TSB, which reports its results on Friday, fell 4.25p to 420.25p. Royal Bank of Scotland has dropped 9.75p to 351.25p.
But it is Cadbury Schweppes that has really taken a hit, with shares down 36.5p, or 6%, at 576p.
The company has posted strong sales for the year, but investors are disappointed at the lack of a capital return from the demerger of its North American drinks business.
The miners, however, are all up on higher metal prices, and the constant spectre of M&A activity.
BHP Billiton is the top riser, up 29p at £16.47, and Rio Tinto, its takeover target, is next in line, rising 81p to £58.07. Anglo American, which posts its full year results tomorrow, has increased 40p to £31.44.
