FTSE 100 movers: Miners hit by weak data, but Babcock and Johnson Matthey jump

Mining stocks were suffering steep losses on Thursday as a wave of disappointing economic data prompted investors to scale back their appetite for risk. Figures from top metals consumer China in particular were weighing on sentiment, as its manufacturing sector stagnated in November.

Rio Tinto, Anglo American and BHP Billiton were among the worst performers in afternoon trade, following closely behind by Glencore and Antofagasta, after the Chinese manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to the break-even point of 50 this month, a six-month low.

BHP Billiton was also making headlines after its boss Andrew Mackenzie said at a shareholder meeting that "the time for massive expansions of iron ore are over". Iron ore is the company's largest business and prices are currently trading at their lowest in over five years.

Leading the upside was engineer Babcock after interim results impressed investors as profits, earnings and cash hit or beat targets. The company, which on Wednesday confirmed a major contract with the Ministry of Defence, lifted pre-tax profits 32% to £187m on revenue up 24% to £2.1bn.

Chemicals and sustainable technology group Johnson Matthey was also in demand after beating profit forecasts in the first half. Revenues fell 25% over the year to £4.8bn, but underlying pre-tax profit rose 2% to £216m, some £10m ahead of what the market was expecting.

A number of heavyweight stocks were also trading in the red after going ex-dividend, including Vodafone, J Sainsbury and National Grid.

FTSE 100 - Risers
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,182.00p +5.72%
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 3,303.00p +4.79%
TUI Travel (TT.) 424.40p +1.87%
Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,167.00p +1.74%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,418.00p +1.43%
easyJet (EZJ) 1,561.00p +1.23%
Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 286.00p +0.95%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 2,595.00p +0.85%
Wolseley (WOS) 3,487.00p +0.78%
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,475.00p +0.77%

FTSE 100 - Fallers
Rio Tinto (RIO) 2,827.00p -3.91%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,282.00p -3.10%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,575.50p -3.05%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 2,380.00p -2.74%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,176.00p -2.73%
Sainsbury (J) (SBRY) 255.70p -2.63%
National Grid (NG.) 936.50p -2.50%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 899.30p -2.49%
Sports Direct International (SPD) 637.50p -2.45%
Weir Group (WEIR) 2,018.00p -2.42%