FTSE 100 Live 15 March: Index closes down for day, up for week; Reckitt and Currys sh

Vodafone investors have been braced for a big cut in dividend income after the telecoms giant unveiled a new payout policy today. The reduction, which will be implemented next year, was revealed alongside the eight billion euros sale of Vodafone’s Italy operation to Swisscom. London’s top flight slipped a little as Wall Street took fright at US consumer confidence figures.