Stock market private wealth down as FTSE falls?

Private wealth invested in the stock market may have depreciated today (August 4th), as Britain's top share index fell one per cent during the morning session.

After a strong performance yesterday, speculators with private wealth in energy groups could have been worst hit, as the price of crude oil saw fuel giants retreat from earlier gains, reported Reuters.

Royal Dutch Shell lost 1.3 per cent and BG Group shares contracted one per cent.

At the beginning of the week the firms added 2.4 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively and private wealth invested in banks would also have appreciated, as HSBC shares ballooned by 4.8 per cent.

The strong performance from financial shares came as a result of good first-half profits, announced on Monday.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) also did well, following news the sell off of more than 300 UK branches would rapidly be completed.

Due to reveal more financial data on Friday, RBS today added one per cent to its shares as Santander confirmed the £1.65 billion asset acquisition deal.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19919022-ADNFCR