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(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.4% at 9,142.41 in afternoon trade on Friday.
Heavily-weighted miners were among the gainers, with Anglo American, Glencore, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto the top performers on the index.
Analysts said a disappointing round of data out of China - retail sales, industrial production and fixed asset investment - has raised hopes of further stimulus measures.
Industrial production grew at a year-on-year rate of 5.7% last month, down from 6.8% in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
This was below the 5.9% increase expected by economists and the slowest rate registered since November 2024, as manufacturing activity was dampened by flooding across the country and a record-breaking heatwave.
Retail sales also disappointed, rising by just 3.7% over last year, down from 4.8% growth in June. This came in well below the 4.6% increase expected by the market, with growth slowing to its lowest since December 2024.
Meanwhile, fixed asset investment statistics showed just a 1.6% year-on-year increase over the January to July period, slowing markedly from the 2.8% growth registered over the first six months of the year. The consensus estimate was 2.7%.
On the downside, defence stocks Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems fell ahead of the Trump-Putin talks in Alaska, amid the seemingly slim prospect of an end to the Ukraine war.
FTSE 100 - Risers
Anglo American (AAL) 2,194.00p 3.34%
Glencore (GLEN) 302.80p 2.82%
Antofagasta (ANTO) 2,129.00p 1.57%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,542.50p 1.37%
Games Workshop Group (GAW) 15,680.00p 1.29%
Croda International (CRDA) 2,513.00p 1.21%
Mondi (MNDI) 1,078.50p 1.13%
DCC (CDI) (DCC) 4,768.00p 1.10%
ICG (ICG) 2,196.00p 1.01%
Hiscox Limited (DI) (HSX) 1,327.00p 0.99%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 3,170.00p -3.18%
Rolls-Royce Holdings (RR.) 1,072.50p -2.63%
Rightmove (RMV) 760.20p -2.21%
3i Group (III) 3,993.00p -1.82%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,170.00p -1.60%
BAE Systems (BA.) 1,751.00p -1.35%
BT Group (BT.A) 211.50p -1.17%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 1,392.50p -1.03%
Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 805.40p -0.89%
Halma (HLMA) 3,204.00p -0.87%
