London close: Stocks end in the red amid downbeat economic data

9th Oct 2014 16:15

London shares ended Thursday on a low note as more economic gloom in Europe overshadowed hints of delays to US interest rate rises.The FTSE 100 closed 50.39 points adrift at 6431.85 after downbeat economic news in the UK and mainland Europe, which included a report showing that German exports in August registered their deepest monthly decline since January 2009.In London, the British Chambers of Commerce published a survey indicating that British economic growth slowed in the third quarter of the year, with manufacturing particularly badly hit. The Bank of England left rates and quantitative easing unchanged as expected.The news reduced positive sentiment generated late on Wednesday by the US Federal Reserve, which emphasised concern over weakness in Europe and the strength of the dollar, easing expectations of a US interest rate hike.Rabobank analysts said in a note: "It appears the Fed is happy to constantly sell the US recovery story, but not to act on it on the rates front."In Europe, downbeat banking news also dampened spirits as Portugal's Espirito Santo Financial Group filed for bankruptcy after a Luxembourg court decision.Back in London, silver miner Fresnillo led the risers with a 46.5p gain to 770p and Randgold Resources gleamed 248p to 4298p after Numis Securities named the pair as among its top picks in the sector.Other miners cashed in on the positive vibes, with Rio Tinto advancing 64p to 3053p, Antofagasta increasing 11p to 686p and Anglo American rising 18p to 1356p.Travel stocks continued to suffer from fears about the spread of the Ebola virus, with BA and Iberia owner IAG flying 10.3p lower to 333p, TUI Travel dimming 10.1p to 356.9p and Easyjet descending 37p to 1341p.Royal Dutch Shell leaked 35.5p to 2245.5p and BP backtracked 5p to 435.15p as the price of a barrel of Brent crude fell 0.8% to $91.38.Elsewhere, online and catalogue retailer N Brown tumbled 46.2p or 13% to 302p after it lowered annual profit guidance as a warm autumn hit demand for clothing.Market MoverstechMARK 2,698.27 -0.98%FTSE 100 6,431.85 -0.78%FTSE 250 14,811.33 -0.82%FTSE 100 - RisersFresnillo (FRES) 770.00p +6.43%Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,298.00p +6.12%Severn Trent (SVT) 1,897.00p +2.54%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 998.50p +2.41%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,053.00p +2.14%ARM Holdings (ARM) 872.50p +1.99%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,492.00p +1.77%Antofagasta (ANTO) 686.00p +1.63%Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 230.20p +1.54%G4S (GFS) 256.10p +1.39%FTSE 100 - FallersKingfisher (KGF) 296.80p -5.08%Persimmon (PSN) 1,276.00p -3.48%Vodafone Group (VOD) 197.35p -3.40%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 333.00p -3.00%ITV (ITV) 200.10p -2.77%TUI Travel (TT.) 356.90p -2.75%Sports Direct International (SPD) 589.50p -2.72%easyJet (EZJ) 1,341.00p -2.69%Aviva (AV.) 499.30p -2.67%Standard Life (SL.) 390.00p -2.40%FTSE 250 - RisersKazakhmys (KAZ) 251.10p +3.72%Hikma Pharmaceuticals (HIK) 1,860.00p +3.45%Petra Diamonds Ltd.(DI) (PDL) 190.30p +3.37%African Barrick Gold (ABG) 207.20p +3.34%Michael Page International (MPI) 426.00p +2.43%Hays (HAS) 122.70p +2.25%BTG (BTG) 729.00p +2.17%Polymetal International (POLY) 480.70p +2.12%Wood Group (John) (WG.) 692.00p +1.99%Vedanta Resources (VED) 923.50p +1.99%FTSE 250 - FallersBrown (N.) Group (BWNG) 302.00p -13.27%BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 381.70p -7.89%Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 963.00p -4.84%Premier Oil (PMO) 286.70p -4.21%Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 108.30p -4.16%Zoopla Property Group (WI) (ZPLA) 212.00p -4.07%Bovis Homes Group (BVS) 742.00p -3.70%COLT Group SA (COLT) 125.20p -3.69%AO World (AO.) 167.40p -3.68%Britvic (BVIC) 639.00p -3.62%