Sector movers: Miners on the march

11th Nov 2009 14:02

Strong metals prices are lifting mining stocks higher. Randgold Resources rebounds after falling yesterday on the back of third quarter production figures that failed to please the market. It is pipped to the top spot by Fresnillo, which mines for silver in Mexico. Meanwhile, industrial metals firms Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto, Xstrata and BHP Billiton are also posting good gains.Among smaller companies in the sector, African Diamonds has rallied, helped by today's announcement that Canada's Lucara has bought De Beers' stake in the AK6 Botswana diamond project.Ultra Electronics is among the companies dragging the aerospace and defence sector lower. The firm said today that, while it is unlikely to be completely isolated from downward pressure on budgets, its strategy makes it inherently resilient. It said that the electronic equipment in which it specialises in represents an increasing proportion of equipment budgets. It also pointed to its broad range of 'niche' capabilities.Top performing sectors so far todayForestry & Paper 3,716.12 +4.39%Mining 20,294.72 +3.82%Real Estate 2,085.37 +3.01%Life Insurance 3,967.68 +2.94%Industrial Metals 4,562.86 +2.27%Bottom performing sectors so far todayIndustrial Transportation 1,903.24 -1.37%Mobile Telecommunications 3,100.18 -0.97%Media 3,206.48 -0.92%Aerospace and Defence 2,867.05 -0.27%Electricity 6,069.37 -0.26%