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FTSE 100 boosted by mining firms as supermarkets fall | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
(Close): UK shares turned positive late in the day as mining shares staged a recovery while supermarkets languished. | |
The FTSE 100 index closed up 17.73 points or 0.26% at 6,736.22. | |
Earlier on Monday, mining shares had been under pressure because of factors including disappointing trade data from China and falling metals prices. | |
But at the close of trading, they were among the biggest risers. Rio Tinto and Fresnillo led the list of gainers, both adding about 1.8%. | |
The sector bounced back despite a downbeat assessment from broking firm Investec, which lowered its forecast for commodity prices because of the weakness in China's economy. | |
However, supermarket shares failed to achieve the same turnaround. Tesco and Sainsbury's fell in early morning trading and stayed that way for the rest of the day, dropping by 1.4% and 1.2% respectively. | |
Shares in Dixons Carphone spent most of Monday in negative territory after the company said its Carphone Warehouse business had been hit by a cyber-attack, but closed with gains of 0.4%. | |
On Saturday, it said personal details of up to 2.4 million of its customers could have been accessed in the attack. | On Saturday, it said personal details of up to 2.4 million of its customers could have been accessed in the attack. |
Engineering group Meggitt edged up 1% after it agreed to buy the advanced composites businesses from Cobham for $200m. | |
In the FTSE 250, shares in Esure dived 9.6% after the insurance group reported a 21% fall in underlying half-year pre-tax profits to £46.5m. | In the FTSE 250, shares in Esure dived 9.6% after the insurance group reported a 21% fall in underlying half-year pre-tax profits to £46.5m. |
The main factor in the decrease was a big fall in profits at its motor insurance business, and the company said it would look to increase premiums. | The main factor in the decrease was a big fall in profits at its motor insurance business, and the company said it would look to increase premiums. |
Chief executive Stuart Vann said: "The claims environment in the motor market continues to deteriorate and as a consequence we will seek to implement further rate increases in the second half of the year as we look to mitigate against these trends." | Chief executive Stuart Vann said: "The claims environment in the motor market continues to deteriorate and as a consequence we will seek to implement further rate increases in the second half of the year as we look to mitigate against these trends." |
On the currency markets, the pound rose 0.3% against the dollar to $1.5539, and was little moved against the euro at €1.4142. |