The FTSE 100 is projected to open flat today after shedding 0.45% on Monday.
Software developer Sage Group (LON:SGE) led the blue chips with a 3% advance. Peer Autonomy Corp (LON:AU) and engineering company Weir Group (LON:WEIR) followed with gains of over 1.5%. Copper miner Kazakhmys (LON:KAZ) added 1.5%. Consumer goods company Unilever (LON:ULVR), base metal miner Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) and insurance focused investor Resolution (LON:RSL) tacked on just over 1%.
Gold producer African Barrick Gold (LON:ABG) was at the bottom of the pile with a 3% loss. Security services provider G4S (LON:GFS) and satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat (LON:ISAT) declined 2.8% and 2.1% respectively. Gold miner Randgold Resources (LON:RRS), energy company Centrica (LON:CNA) and telecom group BT (LON:BT.A) shed nearly 2%.
US stocks closed in the red after the Chicago Fed national activity index was reported to have decline din August. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.45%, the broader S&P 500 index shed 0.55% and the technology heavy NASDAQ composite lost 0.5%.
Asian markets were in selling mode today. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, South Korea’s KOSPI and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slid 0.1%, China’s Shanghai Composite Index retreated 0.45% and Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 1.3%.
Commodities
Oil prices moved lower. November Brent Crude declined to US$78.08/barrel, while US light, sweet crude for November delivery dropped to US$76.11/barrel.
Precious metals pulled back. Gold retreated to US$1,292/oz, while silver and platinum slid to US$21.33 and US$1,616/oz
Base metals followed. Copper and nickel fell to US$3.55/lb and US$10.47/lb, while zinc dropped to US$0.979/lb.
Today’s updates include the final reading for the UK’s Q2 GDP and US consumer confidence data.