FTSE 100 movers: Mining stocks jump as insurers fall

Mining stocks were performing well on Friday, leading the risers on the FTSE 100 as metal prices gained on upbeat US economic data. Fresnillo, BHP Billiton, Anglo American, Randgold and Rio Tinto were all in demand.

Experian was continuing to advance after a well-received first-half report on Thursday in which it said earnings per share rose 6%. Canaccord Genuity upgraded its rating for the credit-checking firm from 'sell' to 'hold' on Friday, while Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank retained their positive ratings.

Leading the fallers were insurance peers Admiral and RSA. Admiral declined after saying that its price-comparison website Confused.com is expected to see a fall in profits in the second half, while RSA dropped after Canaccord Genuity downgraded its rating on the stock from 'hold' to 'sell'.

After a positive start, airline conglomerate IAG fell despite pledging to launch a dividend payment to shareholders in 2015 after saying it was confident of hitting its targets for the year. IAG also said group traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres increased 7.5% versus October 2013.

FTSE 100 - Risers
Fresnillo (FRES) 736.00p +5.22%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,682.00p +3.32%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,373.00p +3.31%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,119.00p +2.85%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,184.00p +2.70%
Experian (EXPN) 1,026.00p +2.65%
IMI (IMI) 1,224.00p +2.60%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,044.00p +2.58%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,328.50p +2.53%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,755.00p +2.53%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,216.00p -3.42%
RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 445.10p -3.26%
Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 167.40p -2.96%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 405.10p -2.15%
Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 271.10p -2.13%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 941.20p -1.96%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,410.00p -1.88%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 373.60p -1.86%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,370.00p -1.65%
British Land Co (BLND) 726.50p -1.56%