Sector movers: Antofagasta, Rio Tinto lead the miners

16th May 2011 16:11

The mining sector is wanted today as analysts have highlighted the recent bout of profit-taking - on the back of falling commodities prices - as a good buying opportunity.Blue chip miners Antofagasta, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Fresnillo, BHP Billiton and Vedanta Resources are all higher. Industrial materials group Cookson is providing a drag in the general industrials sector.Cookson reported last week that the performance this year would be well ahead of 2010, leaving it on track to hit targets set for 2013. However, on Friday, UBS kept its negative stance on the stock, noting that it expects weaker trends from here on in.The broker said it was surprised that the management did not raise consensus expectations, and with no upgrades, Cookson has now tipped into "below average earnings momentum." Top performing sectors so far todayMining 25,250.23 +2.09%Mobile Telecommunications 3,839.39 +0.20%Industrial Transportation 2,609.58 +0.11%Chemicals 7,366.78 +0.10%Financial Services 5,922.58 +0.10%Bottom performing sectors so far todayGeneral Industrials 3,242.81 -1.68%Fixed Line Telecommunications 2,374.38 -1.44%Support Services 4,618.95 -1.22%Industrial Engineering 7,325.87 -1.20%Industrial Metals & Mining 7,574.81 -1.18%