Markets: FTSE100 hammered as copper drags miners down

published 15 January 2015

FTSE 100 down 2.4% to 6,388
Gold down 0.17% to $1,228.70/oz
£/$ - 1.5234

Glencore was the biggest faller of the day with a 9.3% slump. Anglo American fell 9%, and BHP Billiton was 6.1% lower.

In European markets, the Paris CAC 40 fell 57 points to 4,233, and the German Xetra Dax lost 124 points to 9,817.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.1% to 17,427, the S&P 500 lost 0.6% to 2,011, and the Nasdaq Composite also was 0.5% lower at 4,639.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 1.9% to 17,108, and the broader Topix index gained 1.4% to 1,376. And in China, the Shanghai Composite rose 3.5% to 3,336, and the CSI 300 was 2.9% higher at 3,604.

Brent spot was trading at $47.60 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $47.86. Spot gold was trading at $1,229 an ounce, silver was at $16.78 and platinum was at $1,225.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5205 and against the euro at 1.2933. The dollar was trading at 0.8505 against the euro and 117.62 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, Argos reported disappointing sales for the last quarter, according to parent group Home Retail. Like-for-like sales rose by just 0.1% in the 18 weeks to 3 January. Total sales rose by 0.8% to £1.8bn. Parent Group Home Retail fell by 5% in today's early trading.

David Stevenson, former MoneyWeek writer and director of The Fleet Street Letter, believessilver could be about to start a record climb. Click here(capital at risk)to read about the three irresistible forces David believes could push the price of silver through the roof.

MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.