Eurozone fears kept London’s FTSE 100 Index in the red today as worries over the bailout vote in debt-laden Cyprus put world markets under pressure.
The FTSE 100 finished 16.6 points lower at 6,441.3, although it avoided the hefty losses seen elsewhere across Europe.
Big losses for mining stocks added to the subdued mood of investors, reflecting uncertain global growth prospects.
Rio Tinto was the biggest faller, off 170p to £31.07, and Evraz 11.1p down at 233.4p.
Chip designer ARM Holdings was also weaker after chief executive Warren East announced plans to leave the company in the summer following 12 years at the helm.
Investors showed their disappointment as shares in the FTSE 100 Index company fell by 3% or 24p to 896.5p, although this compares with around 250p when Mr East took charge in October 2001.
Sainsbury’s was one of the biggest risers in the top flight, up 2% or 6.2p to 371.4p, after another batch of impressive quarterly sales figures. Tesco was 2.6p lower at 380.1p however, while Morrisons fell 1.6p to 269.7p.
The biggest FTSE 100 risers included BAE Systems up 9.5p at 393.4p, Severn Trent ahead 28p at £16.73, Sainsbury’s 6.2p higher at 371.4p and United Utilities up 11.5p to 695.5p.
Among the biggest FTSE 100 fallers were Weir Group 106p lower at £23.25 and BHP Billiton 72.5p down at 1,981.5p.
Elaine McLachlan, of investment manager and financial planning specialist Brewin Dolphin in Inverness, noted that the day’s risers included SSE up 1.4% at £14.80 and Stagecoach rising 1.1% to 312.5p.
Fallers included Johnston Press, off 5.7% at 13.5p, while Xcite Energy was down 3.9% at 112.3p.