FTSE 100 movers: Miners rally; defence stocks in the red

(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%