Sector movers: Miners boosted by China hopes
Metals and miners were the driving force on Friday, with the sector being the top dog in Europe.
As well as higher copper prices, another factor boosting the sector was China's recent round of measures to stimulate its economy. Fresh news is that the People's Bank of China indicated it might inject more stimulus via further targeted cuts to banks’ reserve rate requirements.
Analysts at Danske Bank pointed to a "big jump" in credit in China in January, telling clients it was a sign that Beijing's stimulus measures "kicking in with more force".
"The data added to optimism in the Chinese equity market, which rallied further this week, putting gains at close to 15% this year," analysts said.
With the market on the front foot, defensive sectors such as telecoms were a bit left behind. BT and TalkTalk were both in the red.
Food retailers were down, having been up at the start of th week.
Top performing sectors so far today
Industrial Metals & Mining 5,357.44 +2.29%
Mining 19,659.77 +2.21%
Leisure Goods 7,806.76 +2.12%
Technology Hardware & Equipment 1,173.62 +1.36%
Food Producers & Processors 7,233.14 +0.83%
Bottom performing sectors so far today
Fixed Line Telecommunications 2,638.71 -1.20%
Personal Goods 36,399.57 -1.10%
Food & Drug Retailers 3,702.07 -0.96%
Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution 10,689.16 -0.78%
Household Goods & Home Construction 15,875.42 -0.72%
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,183.44 0.22%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 19,276.69 0.21%
techMARK (TASX) 3,513.72 0.25%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Evraz (EVR) 551.20p 3.73%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,056.00p 3.33%
Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,702.00p 3.21%
Glencore (GLEN) 309.25p 2.91%
Melrose Industries (MRO) 173.80p 2.24%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 949.20p 2.15%
BHP Group (BHP) 1,823.80p 2.04%
Pearson (PSON) 899.80p 1.86%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,467.00p 1.71%
TUI AG Reg Shs (DI) (TUI) 835.80p 1.60%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Barclays (BARC) 156.18p -2.86%
Kingfisher (KGF) 233.40p -2.34%
GVC Holdings (GVC) 631.50p -1.79%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RB.) 5,890.00p -1.32%
Unilever (ULVR) 4,201.00p -1.28%
BT Group (BT.A) 228.00p -1.26%
Tesco (TSCO) 223.40p -1.19%
NMC Health (NMC) 2,758.00p -1.01%
Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 288.00p -1.00%
Smith (DS) (SMDS) 333.60p -0.98%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Provident Financial (PFG) 592.60p 15.88%
Dairy Crest Group (DCG) 633.50p 14.14%
Metro Bank (MTRO) 1,425.00p 9.28%
Indivior (INDV) 107.99p 8.71%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,074.00p 5.82%
Serco Group (SRP) 128.00p 5.18%
Vivo Energy (VVO) 139.16p 4.54%
TBC Bank Group (TBCG) 1,470.00p 4.11%
Playtech (PTEC) 413.30p 3.74%
Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 160.00p 3.63%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
IG Group Holdings (IGG) 571.50p -6.23%
CYBG (CYBG) 187.90p -4.76%
Plus500 Ltd (DI) (PLUS) 793.00p -3.70%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 251.60p -1.95%
BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust (BRSC) 1,310.00p -1.87%
Inmarsat (ISAT) 393.00p -1.85%
Galliford Try (GFRD) 700.86p -1.84%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 270.30p -1.82%
St. Modwen Properties (SMP) 394.00p -1.79%
TalkTalk Telecom Group (TALK) 98.00p -1.66%