U.K. stocks skidded lower on Thursday on worries markets have climbed too quickly in the face of the coronavirus pandemic still keeping most economies shut.
The FTSE 100 UKX, -2.43% dropped over 2%, with 94 of its components losing ground.
Through Wednesday, the FTSE 100 has climbed 18% from its March lows. On Wednesday, data released by the U.K. government showed the economy fell by 5.8% in March when there was just over a week of lockdown.
Decliners included those invested in the stock market, with M&G MNG, -6.28%, Prudential and Legal & General LGEN, -4.50% each dropping sharply. Prudential PRU, -6.27% said it was considering other options besides an initial public offering for its Jackson insurance arm in the U.S., as Asian sales fell 24% in the first quarter.
Hargreaves Lansdown HL, +4.39% climbed 5%, as the U.K. investment firm reported net new business of £4.0 billion in the four months ending April 30.
3i Group III, +4.56% was another advancer, as the private-equity firm reported a smaller-than-expected decline in net asset value.
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