After falling 2.7 per cent last week, the FTSE 100 was down a further 0.4 per cent at 6,314 in early trading, falling for the fifth session in a row. If the index ends the day at this mark, it would represent the lowest close since early-July 2013.

Mining stocks were being helped higher in early deals by some better-than-expected economic data from China, but concerns about the wider global economy were continuing to hit investors’ appetite for risk.

“Just over a month ago expectations that the FTSE could break above the 7,000 level were the norm, with the index trading less than 100 points away,” said analyst Alastair McCaig from IG.

“The subsequent economic data out of Germany and dismantling of confidence has not only slaughtered European markets but dragged the UK down too,” he said.

On a positive note, Chinese exports increased by a larger-than-predicted 15.3% year-on-year in September, compared with 9.4 per cent annual growth the month before. Imports, meanwhile, jumped unexpectedly by 7 per cent, reversing the previous 2.4 per cent drop.

Miners on the up

Mining stocks were the standout risers in London after the upbeat data from China.

Rio Tinto was among the best performers after Barron’s said at the weekend that the stock “looks attractive” even if a potential merger with Glencore doesn’t emerge. Barron’s said that the stock could rise 20% over the next 12 months and that “M&A interest, however tenuous, is just another reason to own it”.

Other miners such as Randgold Resources, Anglo American, Fresnillo and BHP BIlliton were also on the rise, along with FTSE 250 groups Ferrexpo, Hochschild Mining, Polymetal and Lonmin.

However, Aquarius Platinum dropped into the red after announcing that an employee died in an accident at its Kroondal mine in South Africa. The company said that it had to suspend operations at the Kwezi shaft pending a technical review.

Airlines IAG and Easyjet were making modest gains early on as the stocks attempted to recover after fears about the ebola virus hammered stocks in the travel and leisure industry over recent weeks. In contrast, TUI Travel, Intercontinental Hotels and Thomas Cook were extending losses.

Engineering firm Weir was lower after Investec cut its target price for the stock from 2,400p to 2,025p and reiterated its ‘sell’ rating.

FTSE 100 – Risers

United Utilities Group (UU.) 802.50p +1.39%
Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,000.50p +1.20%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 4,246.00p +1.17%
Anglo American (AAL) 1,339.50p +1.06%
ITV (ITV) 197.40p +0.77%
HSBC Holdings (HSBA) 624.80p +0.73%
BHP Billiton (BLT) 1,625.00p +0.71%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,498.00p +0.40%
Fresnillo (FRES) 752.00p +0.40%
Admiral Group (ADM) 1,259.00p +0.32%

FTSE 100 – Fallers

IMI (IMI) 1,113.00p -2.54%
TUI Travel (TT.) 336.50p -2.12%
ARM Holdings (ARM) 826.00p -1.96%
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 2,156.00p -1.78%
Royal Mail (RMG) 391.70p -1.71%
Weir Group (WEIR) 2,170.00p -1.63%
G4S (GFS) 251.40p -1.60%
Ashtead Group (AHT) 898.00p -1.54%
London Stock Exchange Group (LSE) 1,786.00p -1.54%
Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,032.00p -1.53%

Source: ShareCast