This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36191157
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
FTSE 100 slides as weak Chinese data hits miners | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
(Noon): The market fell more than 1%, with shares in mining stocks dropping, after a survey indicated further weakness in the Chinese economy. | |
By midday, the FTSE 100 index was down 78.95 points, or 1.3%, at 6,162.94. | |
A private survey suggested activity at China's factories contracted for the 14th month in a row in April. | |
Mining stocks fell sharply on the news. Shares in Anglo American dived nearly 10%, Glencore fell 6.5% and BHP Billiton dropped 4.8%. | |
Shares in HSBC slipped 1.4% to 446.4p, reversing early gains, after the bank reported a 14% fall in first-quarter profits. | |
The bank cited "extreme levels of volatility" in financial markets at the start of the year, although the decline in profit was not as bad as analysts had feared. | The bank cited "extreme levels of volatility" in financial markets at the start of the year, although the decline in profit was not as bad as analysts had feared. |
In the FTSE 250, shares in Just Eat jumped 7.4% to 411.9p after it raised its profit forecast. | |
The company said full-year operating profit was set to be £102m-£104m, against a previous estimate of £98m-£100m, after it increased the rate it charges restaurants. Revenue is now expected to be £358m, up from £350m. | |
Shares in Aberdeen Asset Management dropped 9.6% to 270p after the fund group reported a sharp fall in half-year profits as it continued to be affected by the downturn in emerging markets. | |
Pre-tax profits sank to £98.8m, down from £185.4m a year earlier. | Pre-tax profits sank to £98.8m, down from £185.4m a year earlier. |
On the currency markets, the pound fell after a UK manufacturing survey suggested the sector contracted last month for the first time in more than three years. | |
Against the dollar, the pound surrendered early gains to stand down 0.1% at $1.4664, and fell 0.4% against the euro to €1.2667. |