London’s FTSE 100 was down 0.4% at 7,191.39 in afternoon trade on Thursday.
Miners BHP, Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Glencore were all under the cosh as metals prices fell.
Rentokil retreated even as it said revenue rose in the third quarter as sales of pest control and non-disinfection hygiene services offset a sharp decline in disinfection sales.
Smiths Group was weaker as it traded without entitlement to the dividend.
Relx gained after the company upgraded its full-year outlook for underlying growth rates in revenue and adjusted operating profit, as well as constant currency growth in adjusted earnings per share.
Legal & General was boosted by an upgrade to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ at Jefferies.
“L&G is the most synergistic European insurer, with its alternative investment arm providing competitive advantages in annuities and asset management,” Jefferies said. “Examining the assets, we conclude there is far less risk than consensus presumes. Moreover, impending capital reform is set to reduce volatility, neutralising another concern.”
FTSE 100 – Risers
Halma (HLMA) 2,964.00p 2.28%
Relx plc (REL) 2,259.00p 1.99%
Reckitt Benckiser Group (RKT) 5,522.00p 1.77%
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 159.84p 1.49%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 1,561.50p 1.13%
Croda International (CRDA) 8,964.00p 1.06%
Legal & General Group (LGEN) 277.60p 1.02%
Unilever (ULVR) 3,856.00p 0.97%
ITV (ITV) 106.50p 0.95%
DCC (CDI) (DCC) 6,072.00p 0.93%
FTSE 100 – Fallers
BHP Group (BHP) 1,932.80p -3.50%
Anglo American (AAL) 2,744.00p -3.31%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 650.40p -3.13%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,736.00p -3.06%
Glencore (GLEN) 368.80p -2.42%
Rentokil Initial (RTO) 589.60p -2.32%
Taylor Wimpey (TW.) 152.05p -2.09%
NATWEST GROUP PLC ORD 100P (NWG) 228.00p -1.94%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,424.00p -1.93%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 2,645.00p -1.71%
