Rolls-Royce and miners put the brakes on FTSE 100 index – London Report
A massive fall in Rolls-Royce stocks and continuing problems in the mining sector yesterday hit the blue-chip FTSE 100 index. The index fell 1.88 per cent to 6,178.68 points.
Rolls-Royce was the biggest casualty of the day, tumbling 19.57 per cent to 536.50p after warning profits will be at the lower end of expectations due to “sharply weaker demand”.
The airline engine maker said that profit headwinds in 2016 are likely to increase to £650m, thanks to falling demand for its wide-bodied aftermarket, corporate and regional aerospace markets and offshore marine arm.
Miners extended their run of loses, with shares in Anglo American, Glencore, BHP Billiton, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto all down.
Anglo American shares fell 8.7 per cent to 449.90p per share, while Glencore’s stock slid 7.64 per cent to 95.92p. BHP Billiton and Antofagasta fell 5.02 per cent to 877.30p per share and 4.89 per cent to 480.80p per share respectively.
Rio Tinto fell less sharply, by 2.99 per cent to 2,238p per share.
Earlier, copper prices slid to a two-and-a-half month low after the dollar rose to effectively make it more expensive.
Chinese loan data which was also significantly weaker than expected. China is the largest metals consumer, accounting for nearly half of global copper demand.
“The underlying commodity prices that are driving down commodity-linked stocks [are]… driven by concerns over China [and] a stronger dollar,” Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index, said.
Shares in Sainsbury’s also fell 4.07 per cent, a day after it reported a nearly 18 per cent fall in profit, despite slashing its interim dividend by a third.
“Cost inflation, selling deflation, and gross margins under pressure suggest on-going, structural profit declines,” HSBC analysts wrote in a note.
However, BAE Systems’ share price rose 3.81 per cent to 455p per share, rebounding after sources told Reuters that it was in talks to sell its US manpower and services businesses to a private equity firm for more than $1bn (£650m).