Vaccine excitement cools and pound's rise weighs on FTSE 100 while EasyJet slumps to first loss in 25-year history. : Update (16:45): The FTSE 100 has closed in the red, down 0.9% after paring losses from the day’s lows as the session drew to a close. UK ‘mid-cap’ stocks on the FTSE 250 fared better, losing 0.5%, while the pound added to gains, up 0.4% against the dollar at $1.325 as investors awaited news on the progress of Brexit trade talks.