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London's FTSE 100 Edges Lower as Utilities and Miners Weigh

April 17 (Reuters) - UK's benchmark stock index ‌FTSE 100 dipped slightly on Friday, weighed down by utilities and mining stocks, and was set to snap a ​three-week winning streak.

Shares of utility companies slipped and ​dragged the benchmark lower after the Financial ⁠Times reported on Thursday that the Finance Minister ​Rachel Reeves vowed to cut the link between gas ​and electricity prices.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell 0.1% to 10,581.06 points by 10:10 a.m. GMT, while the midcap FTSE ​250 gained 0.1%, heading for a third straight ​week of gains.

  • The utilities sector was down 2.7%, with National Grid, ‌Severn ⁠Trent down 1.3%; while SSE, Centrica down more than 5%.

  • Miners Anglo American and Glencore down 1.9% and 1.3%, respectively, tracking metal prices.

  • Precious metal miners and ​Industrial miners down ​more than ⁠1%

  • Heavyweight banks down 0.1%.

  • Oil giants BP and Shell down 0.5% as crude prices declined ​on prospects of an end to the ​U.S.-Iran ⁠war.

  • Workspace Group plunges 12.5% after the office-space provider expects a substantial step down in annual profit.

  • Associated British Foods ⁠expected to ​outline plans to separate its ​Primark fashion chain from its food businesses, shares down 0.4%.

Reporting by ​Utkarsh Tushar Hathi in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber

Source: Reuters


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