U.K. stocks finished the trading day modestly lower on Thursday, as sector-level losses in Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Fixed Line Telecommunications and Tobacco coincided with notable strength among large mining companies.
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 was down 0.06%.
The session's top performers on the index were dominated by mining companies. Anglo American PLC (LON:AAL) led gains, climbing 5.83% - an increase of 197.00 points - to end the day at 3,578.00. Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO) also recorded a strong advance, adding 5.36% or 189.00 points to finish at 3,716.00. Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN) rose 4.23%, a 20.75-point gain, to close at 511.40.
On the downside, the session's weakest performers included firms from sectors called out as dragging the market. AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) fell 6.22%, a decline of 886.00 points, to trade at 13,354.00 at the close. Defence and aerospace contractor BAE Systems PLC (LON:BAES) slipped 4.47%, down 86.00 points to 1,839.00. British American Tobacco PLC (LON:BATS) decreased 2.47% or 114.00 points to finish at 4,497.00.
Market breadth on the London Stock Exchange showed more advancing issues than decliners, with 997 stocks rising versus 693 that fell; 571 issues ended the session unchanged.
Commodities moved unevenly during the session. Gold Futures for August delivery rose 1.36%, up $55.61, to $4,138.01 a troy ounce. By contrast, crude oil prices fell: the August crude oil contract declined 1.89% or $1.39 to $72.13 a barrel, while the September Brent contract slipped 1.86% or $1.45 to trade at $76.57 a barrel.
In currency markets, GBP/USD was reported as unchanged 0.17% at 1.34, while EUR/GBP was shown as unchanged 0.01% at 0.85. The US Dollar Index Futures was trading lower, down 0.11% at 100.65.
Session snapshot
- Index: Investing.com United Kingdom 100 -0.06% at close.
- Top gainers: Anglo American PLC (AAL) +5.83% to 3,578.00; Antofagasta PLC (ANTO) +5.36% to 3,716.00; Glencore PLC (GLEN) +4.23% to 511.40.
- Top decliners: AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) -6.22% to 13,354.00; BAE Systems PLC (BAES) -4.47% to 1,839.00; British American Tobacco PLC (BATS) -2.47% to 4,497.00.
- Market breadth: 997 advancers, 693 decliners, 571 unchanged.
- Commodities and FX: Gold up; crude oil and Brent down; GBP/USD and EUR/GBP essentially unchanged; US Dollar Index Futures down 0.11%.
Notes
The data above reflects closing prices and session moves as reported at the London market close. Sector performance cited in this summary identified Pharmaceuticals & Biotech, Fixed Line Telecommunications and Tobacco as the areas that contributed to the downward pressure on the index during the session.