FTSE dips on China data and Moody's France warning

The FTSE 100 was 1.3% lower this morning after slowing Chinese GDP data and a Moody's warning over France's AAA-rating weighed on sentiment.

The blue chip index was down 72 points to 5,364 shortly after the open, with mining and resource stocks among the worst affected after Chinese Q3 GDP came in slightly lower than expected at 9.1%. Xstrata was down 3.9% to 912p, Rio Tinto was also down 3.9% at £31.72, while Antofagasta and Vedanta Resources fell by more than 3%. The index's largest faller was Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered, which slipped 4.4%. Data showing inflation in the UK hit a record high of 5.2% in September had little impact on markets shortly after release. Meanwhile stocks were under pressure on the Co...