FTSE dragged down by mining stocks

The FTSE 100 index was in the red just after midday, dragged down by mining stocks which sold-off as oil and metals prices weakened.

Having enjoyed a positive day yesterday, miners including Anglo American, Randgold Resources and Rio Tinto were all among the top fallers in the index, down between 2.9% and 2.4% by 12:10pm. Miners fell in reaction to moves down in commodity markets, with Brent crude and some precious metals all lower. The losses weighed on the index overall, with the FTSE 100 off 0.85% at 6,510, having been as low as 6,503 at one stage. The worst performing stock in the index was housebuilder Persimmon, down 4.5%, after it announced plans to pull out of constructing houses in parts of Wales earlie...