Sector movers: Economic outlook cheers miners

14th Oct 2009 14:49

Mining stocks are at the forefront of the advance today as metals prices advance, helped by news that China imported more copper in September than in the previous month.Among the risers are big firms such as Fresnillo, which said silver production increased 9.3% during its third quarter and said it was on track to achieve a good outcome for 2009 as a whole. Industrial metal giant Rio Tinto is also higher after it set a new record for iron ore production in its third quarter with shipments to China still high despite the row over the arrest and detainment of four employees on spying charges.Drinks firms are lacking a bit of fizz after Diageo, the company behind Guinness and Smirnoff vodka, said sales in the three months to September 30 fell by 6% from the same period the previous year. Magners cider maker C&C, which mentioned similar trends last week, is also lower.Top performing sectors so far todayChemicals 4,322.75 +4.56%Forestry & Paper 3,889.54 +4.52%Mining 19,383.98 +4.06%Personal Goods 9,952.22 +3.87%Oil Equipment Services & Distribution 16,382.06 +3.20%Bottom performing sectors so far todayElectricity 6,255.41 -1.31%Food & Drug Retailers 4,317.49 -0.86%Beverages 7,302.51 -0.84%Gas, Water & Multiutilities 3,632.74 -0.16%Food Producers & Processors 4,762.54 -0.08%