SSE and Centrica hit as Reeves threatens to rewire energy pricing

Shares in SSE PLC (LSE:SSE) and Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA) took a heavy beating on Friday after Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled that the government is actively working to sever the link between electricity and gas prices - a reform that could fundamentally reshape the economics of the UK energy sector. SSE fell 5.2% and Centrica dropped 4.9%, making the two utilities among the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 on a day when the broader mood across European markets was broadly positive, buoyed by hopes of progress in Middle East peace talks.