By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The U.K.'s benchmark stock index was on
track to break a two-day winning streak on Monday, with banks and
oil firms leading the charge south, while a well-received earnings
report from Aggreko PLC sent the company's shares rallying in
London.
The FTSE 100 index slipped 0.1% to 6,713.14, retreating from the
highest closing level since May, reached on Friday.
Among notable movers in the index, Aggreko climbed 5.3% after
the provider of temporary-power solutions said it expects full-year
pretax profit to be in line with the market's expectations. It also
reported third-quarter revenues and margins slightly ahead of the
same period last year.
Shares of Randgold Resources Ltd. gained 4.8% after the gold
miner said it plans to "aggressively" explore opportunities in the
Ivory Coast.
Other mining firms were mostly lower, as metals prices were
mixed. Antofagasta PLC dropped 0.7%, Anglo American PLC lost 0.6%
and Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) fell 0.6%.
Energy firms were also on the decline, with shares of BG Group
PLC down 1.4% and BP PLC (BP) 0.5% lower.
Tullow Oil PLC fell 1.3% after the oil explorer said it has
temporarily suspended all operation at two areas in Kenya due to
labor unrest.
Shares of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC dropped 2.2% after
the hotel operator posted a weaker-than-expected third-quarter
trading update.
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) gave up 1.1% after Investec
Securities cut the firm to hold from buy ahead of the bank's
third-quarter results on Tuesday.
Other banks were also on the decline in London, with shares of
Barclays PLC (BCS) down 2.1% and Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
(RBS) off 0.5%.
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