Sector movers: Higher Gilt yields hit cyclicals, interest rate sensitive names

Cyclicals and interest rate-sensitive areas of the market came under pressure in the middle of the week as longer-term Gilt yields continued moving higher.

Similarly-dated U.S. Treasuries were also under pressure.

In the case of the U.K., the move in Gilts had been triggered by better-than-expected purchasing managers' surveys published the day before and hawkish remarks from the BoE's chief economist.

Meanwhile, investors in the States were waiting on important inflation readings for the month of March due out on Friday.

Going the other way, commodity-related sectors fared well, mainly due to some market participants' improved views on the outlook for the Chinese economy.

Defence names were helped by positive analyst comments out of J.P.Morgan and Citi.

Top performing sectors so far today

Industrial Metals & Mining 6,837.59 +2.21%

Precious Metals and Mining 10,520.27 +1.74%

Aerospace and Defence 10,882.08 +0.77%

Oil, Gas and Coal 9,657.38 +0.42%

Personal Care, Drug and Grocery Stores 3,798.88 +0.38%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Chemicals 9,154.42 -2.91%

Personal Goods 15,941.96 -2.38%

Real Estate Investment Trusts 2,217.03 -1.94%

Investment Banking and Brokerage Services 13,858.08 -1.92%

Household Goods & Home Construction 12,474.80 -1.75%