London midday: FTSE continues retreat from record highs as mining stocks decline

UK stocks were falling for the fourth straight day on Wednesday after a batch of mixed corporate earnings and global economic data.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.32% at 6,866.94 by midday, on track for its lowest close since 16 February, with mining giants Fresnillo and Glencore providing a drag.

Stocks have continued to fall since the Footsie rallied to an all-time closing high of 6,949.73 last Thursday.

The HSBC China services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) improved to 52 in February from a six-month low of 51.8 the month before, showing that activity growth in the sector had picked up last month.

However, the UK services PMI unexpectedly fell from 57.2 to 56.7, while the final estimate of the Eurozone services PMI was revised from 53.9 to 53.7. In other news, Eurozone retail sales jumped 1.1% in January, ahead of expectations.

There will be a raft of economic data out in the States later on, including MBA mortgage applications, the ADP employment report and ISM services index. Central bank decisions in the UK and Europe on Thursday were also likely keeping investors cautious, along with the all-important US non-farm payrolls report on Friday.

StanChart and ITV jump, miners slump

Emerging markets-focused lender Standard Chartered was in demand despite announcing that pre-tax profits in 2014 dropped 25% to $5.2bn. Results missed analysts’ forecasts by a long way, though the market gave the report a warm welcome as the bank eased concerns by maintaining its dividend and not signalling any intention to raise capital.

ITV also rose sharply after the strongest advertising performance in five years helped it beat forecasts for 2014, as it hiked its annual dividend 34% and proposed an extra payout for shareholders. Numis Securities upped its rating on the broadcaster and producer from ‘add’ to ‘buy’.

Heading the other way was Mexican precious metals producer Fresnillo after the company said profits plunged 40% to $251.1m in 2014 as record silver production was offset by lower prices and higher production costs.

Commodities trader and mining group Glencore also dropped with traders linking the fall to a placing of 53.7m shares by Deutsche Bank priced at 282.45p each, compared with Tuesday’s close of 291.2p.

Mining peers Rio Tinto and Anglo American were also out of favour on Wednesday.

Annual results from insurance, savings and investment group Legal & General received a frosty reception from the market as pre-tax profits rose a less-than-expected 9% to £922m.

Afren’s stock tumbled after the struggling oil group said it will default on $15m of interest payments and that shareholders could by “substantially” diluted as part of a possible restructuring.

Market Movers
techMARK 3,140.05 +0.05%
FTSE 100 6,866.94 -0.32%
FTSE 250 17,075.45 -0.41%

FTSE 100 - Risers
ITV (ITV) 233.50p +5.28%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,019.00p +4.60%
Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,144.00p +1.15%
Reed Elsevier (REL) 1,115.00p +1.00%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 226.95p +0.87%
Shire Plc (SHP) 5,200.00p +0.78%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 943.00p +0.64%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,164.00p +0.60%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,171.00p +0.60%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 1,168.00p +0.60%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Fresnillo (FRES) 753.00p -4.86%
Glencore (GLEN) 280.45p -3.69%
Legal & General Group (LGEN) 268.40p -3.52%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,135.00p -3.07%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,056.00p -2.52%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,178.00p -2.20%
3i Group (III) 483.10p -1.61%
SSE (SSE) 1,541.00p -1.60%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,923.00p -1.48%
National Grid (NG.) 871.60p -1.46%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 350.00p +4.48%
Greggs (GRG) 902.00p +3.62%
Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 250.30p +2.83%
JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 496.10p +2.67%
CLS Holdings (CLI) 1,712.00p +1.90%
Rightmove (RMV) 3,016.00p +1.58%
Computacenter (CCC) 731.50p +1.25%
Diploma (DPLM) 775.00p +1.24%
F&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd. (FCPT) 144.20p +1.19%
Fisher (James) & Sons (FSJ) 1,264.00p +1.12%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Afren (AFR) 6.38p -29.80%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 283.10p -4.55%
Ophir Energy (OPHR) 134.00p -4.29%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 119.50p -3.08%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 656.50p -2.74%
Rotork (ROR) 2,529.00p -2.73%
Elementis (ELM) 278.30p -2.66%
Serco Group (SRP) 206.60p -2.50%
Laird (LRD) 343.70p -2.50%
Allied Minds (ALM) 633.50p -2.46%