Market Report: Aberdeen Asset Management hit by Argentina's currency woes

Don’t cry for Aberdeen Asset Management but Argentina’s currency issues sent it falling yesterday.

Emerging market problems panicked the markets as Argentina was forced to relax its strict foreign exchange controls, a day after the peso suffered its biggest fall in 12 years, while the Turkish lira hit record lows and the rouble and the rand slumped to 2009 levels. Fund managers with emerging market exposure were some of the worst-hit stocks as the FTSE 100 slumped more than 1.6 per cent. A sell note from Morgan Stanley added to Aberdeen’s woes and it tumbled 24.1p to 397.3p – bottom of the benchmark index. The FTSE 250 investment manager Ashmore, which got a neutral rating from Morgan Stanley, fell 18.2p to 325.8p.

The FTSE 100 was 109.54 points weaker at 6,663.74 – the biggest one-day fall since last June last year as the index returned to pre-Christmas levels.

A range of other stocks were hit by jittery sellers and British Airways owner IAG lost 21.1p to 406.3p.

Investec downgraded Lloyds Banking Group to a hold amid concerns over further PPI payout risk. Lloyds fell 1.67p to 81.36p.

UBS analysts looked at the specialist chemical sector and speculated that M&A activity is likely. UBS said there was bid potential for Elementis and Croda International’s technologies unit. Croda slipped 40p to 2,400p and Elementis 8.8p to 250.7p.

Cairn Energy lost 14.6p to 247.5p amid concerns about an Indian tax inquiry into Cairn India, where it owns 10 per cent.

The AIM-listed clean-fuel group ITM Power agreed a contract with Amec and National Grid and strengthened 3p to 41.25p.

The Paraguay-focused President Energy rose 3.37p to 44.5p after issuing an update on drilling prospects.

The US oil and gas group Empyrean Energy got the thumbs-up from analysts at Cenkos who rated it a buy with a 20p price target. It jetted 0.875p to 12.5p.

Victoria Oil & Gas agreed a settlement over a project in Cameroon and it soared 0.14p to 1.44p

Online payment specialist Optimal Payments said two investors placed 44 million shares at 365p yesterday. It eased 30p to 370p.