Sector movers: Aerospace names and precious metals miners pace gains

Aerospace names and Precious Metals Miners performed best on a mixed day for London's main market indices.

Rolls-Royce paced gains among the former after the engineer unveiled its medium-term targets ahead of a capital markets day.

The engine maker said it planned to deliver operating profit of £2.5bn to £2.8bn, an operating margin of 13-15%, free cashflow of between £2.8-3.1bn and a return on capital of 16-18%.

Precious metals miners meanwhile were boosted by dovish sounding remarks from a top U.S. central bank official which served to lift gold prices.

In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute, Federal Reserve Governor Christoper Waller said: "The October data I have cited on economic activity and inflation are consistent with the kind of moderating demand and easing price pressure that will help move inflation back to 2 percent, and I will be looking to see that confirmed in upcoming data releases."

On the back of his remarks, the yield on the benchmark two-year U.S. Treasury note was falling back, helping to boost front-dated gold futures up by 1.31% to $2,038.70/oz..

Top performing sectors so far today

Aerospace and Defence 7,871.19 +2.10%

Precious Metals and Mining 9,760.30 +1.93%

General Industrials 6,201.72 +0.93%

Gas, Water & Multiutilities 6,136.11 +0.85%

Retailers 3,641.85 +0.53%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Leisure Goods 26,097.30 -1.79%

Real Estate Investment & Services 2,124.32 -1.70%

Life Insurance 5,987.17 -1.60%

Personal Goods 21,940.00 -1.47%

Real Estate Investment Trusts 2,182.14 -1.02%