The FTSE 100 index closed down 0.2 per cent, or 16 points, to 7011, while the FTSE 250 fell by a larger 1.4 per cent to 22,654.
Rishi Sunak has pledged a £500million funding package to help get furloughed workers back into jobs, in his first in-person appearance at Conservative conference as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The £70billion furlough scheme is credited with saving millions of jobs, but around one million workers were still on the programme when it finally closed last week, sparking fears of a surge in unemployment.
Former Tesco boss Terry Leahy is set to return to supermarkets after spearheading the £7billion takeover of Morrisons.
Having advised the successful bid by private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Leahy is widely expected to become Morrisons’ chairman once the deal completes.
Online trading platform Plus500 expects revenue and core earnings for the current year to top market estimates as it raised its forecast for the second time in less than three months.
Plus500 said it saw further positive momentum during the third quarter, buoyed by greater market volatility.
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Rishi Sunak’s first in-person appearance at Conservative conference as Chancellor of the Exchequer has seen him unveil £500m funding to help get furloughed workers back into jobs
