The FTSE 250 was up 0.04% at 20,346.74 at 1445 BST.
Mining and related stocks were down as data from China showed weaker growth in retail sales and industrial production, prompting the nation’s central bank to cut a key interest rate. Investors fear an economic slowdown as the country continues to impose total lockdowns in cities where Covid-19 outbreaks are discovered.
Figures released earlier by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that retail sales rose 2.7% in July from the same month a year earlier, coming in well below analyst expectations of 4.9% growth and down from 3.1% in June.
Meanwhile industrial production was up 3.8% in July following a 3.9% jump in June and missing expectations for a 4.3% increase.
Energean, Hochschild Mining, Tullow Oil and Wood Group were all lower on the news.
FTSE 250 – Risers
888 Holdings (DI) (888) 155.10p 8.69%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 2,522.00p 7.05%
NB Private Equity Partners Ltd. (NBPE) 1,635.00p 4.47%
ICG Enterprise Trust (ICGT) 1,120.00p 3.32%
Pets at Home Group (PETS) 363.60p 3.06%
Indivior (INDV) 314.00p 2.95%
Diploma (DPLM) 2,774.00p 2.66%
HGCapital Trust (HGT) 412.50p 2.48%
Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 2,230.00p 2.29%
Urban Logistics Reit (SHED) 183.50p 2.23%
FTSE 250 – Fallers
Darktrace (DARK) 406.40p -4.69%
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 521.00p -4.26%
Energean (ENOG) 1,238.00p -3.81%
Auction Technology Group (ATG) 908.00p -3.51%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 81.20p -3.16%
XP Power Ltd. (DI) (XPP) 2,225.00p -2.84%
Carnival (CCL) 773.00p -2.67%
Tullow Oil (TLW) 50.65p -2.60%
Wood Group (John) (WG.) 155.00p -2.36%
Elementis (ELM) 116.00p -2.36%
