Markets were back under pressure today as a fresh jump in Spain’s borrowing costs added to fears about the health of the world’s biggest economy.
Fresh from disappointing jobs data in the US on Friday, the FTSE 100 Index fell 0.6%, or 35.3 points to 5,627.3.
Miners were again hit by the economic uncertainty, with Anglo American down by 61.5p at 2,042.5p and Xstrata 18.4p lower at 815.6p.
Luxury goods group Burberry was one of the biggest fallers in the top flight, falling nearly 3%, or 34p to £12.55 as investors awaited a key trading update on Wednesday that is expected to address concerns about slowing demand from the all-important Chinese market.
Marks and Spencer, which is now worth less than high street clothing rival Next, rose 1%, or 3.15p to 321.15p ahead if figures expected to show its worst quarterly trading performance for more than three years.
Other risers included BAE Systems as it emerged as a front-runner to win a £7billion contract with the US air force to provide a fleet of new training jets. Shares were 4.2p higher at 297.1p.
Back in the retail sector, JJB Sports slumped 25%, or 2.5p to 7.4p after wet weather and poor sales of replica shirts in the run-up to Euro 2012 left like-for-like sales 8% lower.
Recruitment firm Michael Page International was off 4%, or 13.7p at 350.9p after it reported a 6.6% year-on-year fall in second quarter profits in the 22 weeks to July 1.
Alan MacPhee, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Aberdeen, noted Royal Bank of Scotland adding 2.08% to 205.7p, Petrofac rising 0.91% to £14.34 and Weir Group 0.65% higher at £15.57.
Hunting fell 3.12% to £7.15, Parkmead Group slipped 2.86% to 12.75p and Premier Oil shed 1.79% to 357.1p.
Recommended for you
