Markets: FTSE 100 ends its positive run

• FTSE 100 down 0.5% to 6,807
• Gold down 0.19% to $1,173.25
• £/$ - 1.5747

FTSE 100

Miners had a poor day. BHP Billiton led the sector down, falling 2.7%, while Rio Tinto lost 1.7% and Glencore was 1.6% lower. The day' worst performer was United Utilities, which fell 3.7% after going ex-dividend.

In Europe's markets yesterday, the Paris CAC 40 fell 0.1% to 5,041, and the German Xetra Dax was two points higher at 11,473.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

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

Get 6 issues free

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

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

Sign up

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4% to 17,890, the S&P 500 lost 0.3% to 2,102, and the Nasdaq Composite was 0.2% lower at 5,112.

Overnight in Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 20,706, and the broader Topix index lost 0.2% to 1,667. And in China, the CSI 300 slumped 7.9% to 4,336, and the Shanghai Composite lost 7.5% to 4,192.

Brent spot was trading at $63.34 early today, and in New York, crude oil was at $59.62. Spot gold was trading at $1,176 an ounce, silver was at $15.80, and platinum was at $1,075.

In the forex markets this morning, sterling was trading against the US dollar at 1.5750 and against the euro at 1.4054. The dollar was trading at 0.8923 against the euro and 123.39 against the Japanese yen.

And in the UK, Tesco reported a slowing in sales decline for the last quarter. Like for like sales fell by 1.3% in the 13 weeks to 30 May, an improvement on the 1.7% decline in the previous quarter, and ahead of analysts' estimates of between 1.6% and 3%. Tesco's share price was up over 3% in today's early trading.