Markets: FTSE 100 slips back after six straight days of gains

FTSE 100 down 0.3% to 6,611

Gold down 0.14% to $1,162.65/oz

£/$ - 1.5779

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The FTSE 100 ended its winning streak yesterday, falling 0.3% to close at 6,611.

Government contractor Capita was the day's worst performer, sliding 6.5%. But sector peer G4S as one of the biggest climbers, up 2.1% after reporting a rise in income.

In European markets, the Paris CAC 40 fell 65 points to 4,179, and the German Xetra Dax lost 159 points to 9,210.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped two points to 17,612, the S&P 500 was 0.1% lower at 2,037, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3% to 4,675.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 added 1.1% to 17,392, and the broader Topix rose 0.9% to 1,389. And in China, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.4% to 2,485, and the CSI 300 was 0.6% lower at 2,579.

Brent spot was trading at $79.55 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $76.75. Spot gold was trading at $1,160 an ounce, silver was at $15.62 and platinum was at $1,202.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5774 and against the euro at 1.2658. The dollar was trading at 0.8025 against the euro and 115.57 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, Virgin Money says it is to float its shares at 283p, valuing the company at £1.25bn. Employees will receive £1,000 worth of shares, which will start trading officially on 18 November.

David Stevenson, former MoneyWeek writer and director of The Fleet Street Letter, believessilver could be about to start a record climb. Click here(capital at risk)to read about the three irresistible forces David believes could push the price of silver through the roof.