FTSE 100 Live: Centrica and BT disappoint, but Segro, RELX, 3i and oil rise

FTSE 100 down 21 points to 10,696 Brent oil hits $98 a barrel UK unveils 20% cut in rates for pubs and clubs Centrica, BT, 3i, RELX, easyJet, MAB, AJ Bell provide updates

11.01am: Politicians' promises After Andy Burnham has unveiled a 20% rates cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England from next April, new Chancellor John Healey has also promised to back companies that have "felt really squeezed".

Healey said earlier the government was committed to overhauling the wider business rates system, including small business rates relief, at the Budget.

In a speech to business leaders in London, Healey said: "My message to British businesses is quite simple: to British businesses, to British innovators, to British investors: I will back you as your Chancellor, and I’ll back you in financial services, in technology, in retail, in industry, in all parts of the economy."

He said he is "just as concerned about the cost of business as I am about the cost of living".

The government also remains under pressure to explain fully how its recent spending and tax pledges will be funded.

In the past two years, this sort of speculation ahead of the Budget has led to a bit of slowdown in the third quarter.

Healey and Burnham would presumably have been apprised of this.

10.21am: easyJet numbers show some 'solid' elements EasyJet shares are up arouind 6% this morning, despite a big fall in profits.

"Having fallen sharply yesterday on fears tightened EU ownership rules might nix US bids for the airline, EasyJet recovered some ground despite reporting falling profit today," says Russ Mould at AJ Bell.

Today's Q3 numbers have "laid bare the impact of the energy price shock unleash...