The FTSE 100 (FTSEINDICES: ^FTSE) looks increasingly unlikely to be setting any new records before the year ends. At the time of writing it stands at 6,491 points — down 42 on the day for a 160-point fall so far this week, and 385 short of the 13-year record set such a long time ago now in May. Still, at least the index of top UK shares is a good way up from its 52-week low of 5,869 points and it’s not going to get that low again — is it?
The same can’t be said for all of the index’s constituents, sadly. Here are three that have plunged to record lows:
Standard Chartered
With its operations largely focused in Asia, Standard Chartered (LSE: STAN) pretty much escaped from the credit crisis — its shares slumped in 2009 along with the rest, but soon picked up again.
But that hasn’t prevented a rough year for shareholders this year, as the share price crashed to a 52-week low today following a profit warnings, losing 90p (6.3%) to 1,341p for a fall of about 8% over the past 12 months.
The bank warned that revenue for the year will be largely unchanged from last year, saying that “difficult market conditions” will be especially tough for its Financial Markets business.
SSE
Shares in SSE (LSE: SSE) (NASDAQOTH: SSEZY.US) have been on a bit of a slide since Labour leader Ed Miliband made his attack on the utilities companies in September, and we’ve seen politicians of all colours jumping on the bandwagon and telling us how they’re going to get our energy bills down.
Since the electioneering started, SSE shares have fallen 262p (17%) to a new 52-week low today of 1,314p.
But unless the full-year dividend comes in below forecasts, shareholders will be on for a 6.6% yield on today’s price.
Antofagasta
The miners are amongst the biggest sufferers in the global meltdown, with slowing demand from China depressing mineral prices. And that’s hurt Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO) pretty badly, pushing the copper miner’s price down to a closing low of 754p yesterday — today it’s up 8.5p from that.
That takes the Antofagasta share price down 42% over the past 12 months, and gives us a forward P/E of 14 based on current forecasts for a 35% fall in earnings per share this year. Dividends should yield around 2.5%.
