Morning Markets: FTSE marred by miners

Miners were pulling the FTSE 100 down in early trading, despite having done well throughout the week...

Miners were pulling the FTSE 100 down in early trading, despite having done well throughout the week on rising metals prices. As of 8.40am, the benchmark blue-chip index had fallen 19.96 points (0.47%) to 4,260.02. The top five worst performing stocks were miners, with Xstrata, Antofagasta, Lonmin, BHP Billiton and Anglo American all falling soon after the markets opened. Xstrata, having reportedly ramped up its merger talks with Anglo American, fell 2.93% to 655p, while the latter company slipped 1.76% to £17.88. Elsewhere, the index was expected to be affected by news BP has appoi...