London close: Markets extend losing streak as miners fall

London's stock market declined for the fourth straight day on Thursday as ongoing concerns about global growth and heavy falls in the mining sector erased earlier gains.

The FTSE 100 finished 0.6% lower at 6,462, closing at its lowest level since 4 November when it settled at 6,453.97.

Mining stocks were providing a drag amid falling gold prices and further weakness in iron ore, "reflecting the slowdown globally and within China", according to analyst Jasper Lawler from CMC Markets UK. "While the Chinese government continues to attempt its fine-tuning of the economy and holds off going whole-hog on stimulus, metals and mining shares will be vulnerable," Lawler said.

Markets had edged higher early on, but gains were quickly erased after it was revealed that banks took up fewer-than-expected loans in the European Central Bank’s (ECB) second round of liquidity operations. The ECB’s second targeted long-term refinancing operations (TLTROs) fell slightly short of analysts’ expectations, with loans totalling €129.84bn compared with the consensus forecast of €150bn.

This means that the combined total of the first two TLTROs came to only €212bn, just over half of the €400bn on offer, suggesting that banks are not keen to lend. However, analysts said that the results have likely increased the pressure on the ECB to embark on full-blown quantitative easing at its next meeting.

Continuing political uncertainty in Greece was also weighing on market sentiment with the Athens Stock Exchange falling a further 7.4% despite a massive sell-off earlier in the week, sparked by the prime minister's decision to bring forward presidential elections.

On a positive note, US economic data came in ahead of estimates in afternoon trade with retail sales growth picking up to 0.7% in November compared with the 0.4% forecast, and jobless claims unexpectedly falling 3,000 to 294,000. However, while the figures led to a big jump for Wall Street stocks after the opening bell in New York, they failed to stem the selling pressure on UK equities.

Mining stocks tank

Mining peers Glencore, Fresnillo, Randgold and Anglo American were weighing heavily on markets on macro concerns.

Blue chips Associated British Foods, Aberdeen Asset Management, Babcock and 3i Group were also providing a drag after the stocks went ex-dividend.

Distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl fell after saying that full-year underlying revenue growth would be around 2.5%, compared with the 3% increase reported in the third quarter.

Whitbread, the owner of Costa coffee, Premier Inn and Beefeater, also underwhelmed with a slight slowdown in like-for-like sales growth in the third quarter to 6%, from 7% in the first half.

Sports Direct also edged lower despite announcing that underlying profits rose by a tenth in the first half as decent top-line growth was met with a strong improvement in margins.

Market Movers
techMARK 2,913.13 +0.05%
FTSE 100 6,461.70 -0.59%
FTSE 250 15,663.52 -0.47%

FTSE 100 - Risers
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,565.00p +3.07%
Legal & General Group (LGEN) 246.60p +2.20%
Carnival (CCL) 2,789.00p +1.64%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,668.00p +1.52%
Dixons Carphone (DC.) 435.90p +1.47%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,220.00p +1.23%
Next (NXT) 6,545.00p +1.16%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 724.00p +0.98%
Persimmon (PSN) 1,573.00p +0.90%
Whitbread (WTB) 4,605.00p +0.79%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Glencore (GLEN) 294.85p -3.74%
Aberdeen Asset Management (ADN) 423.90p -3.35%
BG Group (BG.) 843.70p -3.29%
Fresnillo (FRES) 745.00p -3.25%
3i Group (III) 434.90p -3.16%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,079.00p -2.97%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,173.00p -2.86%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 831.50p -2.86%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,058.00p -2.76%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,261.00p -2.52%

FTSE 250 - Risers
Spirent Communications (SPT) 71.20p +7.63%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 355.40p +6.41%
Kier Group (KIE) 1,470.00p +3.30%
Tullett Prebon (TLPR) 255.30p +3.15%
Laird (LRD) 311.20p +2.64%
Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,075.00p +2.28%
NMC Health (NMC) 485.00p +1.93%
Just Retirement Group (JRG) 141.50p +1.80%
IP Group (IPO) 215.00p +1.80%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 509.00p +1.80%

FTSE 250 - Fallers
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 57.35p -5.98%
Bank of Georgia Holdings (BGEO) 1,949.00p -5.34%
EnQuest (ENQ) 35.80p -4.81%
Soco International (SIA) 243.40p -4.36%
Stock Spirits Group (STCK) 243.30p -3.95%
Evraz (EVR) 134.20p -3.87%
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT) 845.00p -3.87%
Big Yellow Group (BYG) 570.00p -3.72%
Thomas Cook Group (TCG) 117.40p -3.69%
Go-Ahead Group (GOG) 2,448.00p -3.47%