Sector movers: UK engineers pace gains

Cyclicals and defensives switched places on the leaderboard on Monday, when compared to the end of the previous week.

Shares in some of the main UK engineers were among the best performers amid the former following a positive endorsement on the space from analysts at HSBC said in a research note sent to clients.

The third quarter reporting season had served to highlight "continued tough trading conditions", but also signs of market stabilisation and sequential improvement, the broker said.

Current foreign exchange rates were also expected to continue to provide a 'tailwind' and M&A should move up the agenda, HSBC added.

In the same research note sent to clients, the broker upgraded its recommendation on Halma from 'hold' to 'buy' and that on Rotork from 'reduce' to 'hold'.

HSBC also pointed out the "recovery potential" to be had in owning shares of Weir Group.

Most defensive sectors were going in the opposite direction, due to their sensitivity to the yield on longer-term Gilts.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Gilt was up by just three basis points to 1.41% at the closing bell, but well off its intra-session peak of 1.46%.

Top performing sectors so far today
Technology Hardware & Equipment 946.40 +3.19%
Food & Drug Retailers 3,053.90 +1.83%
Industrial Metals & Mining 2,287.86 +1.75%
Electronic & Electrical Equipment 4,835.15 +1.69%
Industrial Engineering 10,220.03 +1.65%

Bottom performing sectors so far today
Fixed Line Telecommunications 4,023.98 -1.42%
Gas, Water & Multiutilities 5,613.68 -1.41%
Real Estate Investment & Services 2,347.67 -0.67%
Tobacco 49,672.29 -0.55%
Electricity 8,570.69 -0.54%