FTSE 100 movers: Gold miners higher as investors monitor North Korea headlines

Investors in precious metals miners' shares had a glint in their eye on Wednesday as Pyongang continued to make provocative remarks, with reports indicating the Hermit Kingdom was studying a possible missile strike against the US Pacific territory of Guam.

That saw front month gold futures climb 1.20% to $1,277.80/oz. on COMEX as of 1559 BST.

Not surprisingly, proxies for the yellow metal such as Randgold Resources and Fresnillo both topped the leaderboard.

BAE Systems also found a bid on the news out of the Far East, mirroring gains for its US-listed peers.

Worldpay was also wanted after agreeing to a £9.3bn merger with US rival Vantiv.

Financials were lower as a group amid the heightened risk aversion, with the selling pressure dragging stock in Legal & General down from its 52-week highs despite what some analysts labeled as a "strong" set of interims.

G4S was at the bottom of the pile after the security outsourcer reported slower growth for the second quarter.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Fresnillo (FRES) 1,543.00p 4.82%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 7,370.00p 2.65%
BAE Systems (BA.) 583.00p 1.30%
Mediclinic International (MDC) 736.50p 1.17%
Worldpay Group (WPG) 387.90p 1.12%
Barratt Developments (BDEV) 605.50p 0.83%
United Utilities Group (UU.) 927.50p 0.82%
Next (NXT) 4,399.00p 0.71%
Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) 7,285.00p 0.62%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 226.55p 0.49%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

G4S (GFS) 308.20p -6.78%
ITV (ITV) 170.50p -2.57%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 783.50p -2.55%
DCC (DCC) 6,810.00p -2.51%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 1,619.00p -2.41%
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) 2,173.00p -2.29%
Prudential (PRU) 1,845.00p -2.15%
Shire Plc (SHP) 3,960.50p -1.89%
WPP (WPP) 1,561.00p -1.89%
Aviva (AV.) 527.00p -1.86%