FTSE 100 movers: Miners dull on China woes; Ashtead leads risers
Miners were on the back foot and dominated the FTSE 100 fallers board on Monday, weighed down by concerns about China's economic growth and a stronger dollar, with Rio Tinto, Anglo, Glancore, Fesnillo and Antofagasta all in the red.
HSBC also slipped as it said pre-tax profits rose 5% to $10.7bn (£8.23bn), reflecting a net favourable movement in significant items and favourable currency translation. However, adjusted profit before tax of $12.1bn was 2% lower, as revenue growth and lower expected credit losses were partly offset by higher operating expenses.
Adjusted profit before tax of $12.1bn was 2% lower, as revenue growth and lower expected credit losses were partly offset by higher operating expenses. Revenue rose by 4% to $27.3bn.
Operating expenses of $17.5bn were 7% higher, primarily reflecting investments to grow the business, HSBC said. The bank has poured money into its retail and investment banking units in Hong Kong and China.
Low-cost carrier easyJet flew a touch lower as it said passenger numbers rose 4.5% year-on-year and the load factor improved 0.1 percentage points to 96.9%.
The airline added that on a rolling 12-month basis, passenger numbers through July were up 6.2% to 83,639,260, while its load factor grew 1.4 percentage points to 93.6%.
Ashtead led the risers after a 'buy' recommendation from broker Jeffries.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,645.40 -0.18%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Ashtead Group (AHT) 2,334.00p 1.26%
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,571.80p 1.20%
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) 2,100.00p 1.11%
BT Group (BT.A) 236.95p 1.09%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 3,246.00p 1.00%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 4,751.00p 0.83%
ITV (ITV) 165.30p 0.82%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,462.00p 0.78%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 532.40p 0.68%
Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,699.00p 0.63%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Fresnillo (FRES) 970.40p -4.35%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,189.00p -3.25%
Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 249.90p -3.06%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 5,474.00p -2.42%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,905.00p -2.18%
Just Eat (JE.) 789.00p -2.16%
Glencore (GLEN) 312.45p -1.78%
Mondi (MNDI) 2,197.00p -1.74%
Kingfisher (KGF) 289.20p -1.70%
British Land Company (BLND) 645.80p -1.55%