Profit-taking and more gloomy economic news drove the main London share index lower on Wednesday.

The FTSE 100-share index finished down 43 points at 5755, well off its earlier rally.

Second liners did better, as favourable results from Johnson Matthey and Tate&Lyle helped boost the FTSE-250 up slightly.

Granada Group added 37p to finish at 910p after a 13.1% hike in full-year profits, led by a strong performance from its media operations.

Fellow leisure group Ladbroke also rose 6.75p to 234p in sympathy.

Solid interim results and an acquisition of Midland Electricity's supply business did not help National Power, which was down by 32p at 528p, as investors worried that the company would have to sell its Drax power station as a quid pro quo for the deal.

A profits warning from Swiss giant Nestle unsettled sentiment in Cadbury, down 4p at 920p, and Unilever, 6p lower at 639p.

Shares in Tate & Lyle rose 17p to 390p after an upbeat statement from new chairman Sir David Lees, who has been at the group for only two months.

Tate & Lyle's full year profits rose to £167m from £159m last year, and the company managed to hold the dividend.