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UK's FTSE 100 has worst day in 4 weeks; Ashtead drops

Britain's FTSE 100 fell on Tuesday as mining shares slipped, while Ashtead dropped after it alerted of lower than anticipated annual earnings and proposed to move its main listing to New York from London.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 fell 0.9%, its worst day because Nov. 12, while the midcap FTSE 250 was down 0.4%. in its worst session for two weeks.

Shares of miners Glencore, Antofagasta and. Anglo American fell between 1.1% and 3.5% as copper. rates slipped, under pressure from a downturn in China's export. growth and a stronger dollar.

Metal prices had rallied in the previous session on China's. prepared relocation towards a moderately loose monetary policy for. the first time since 2010.

Ashtead dropped 14% to the bottom of the FTSE 100. The devices rental company stated it was proposing to move its. primary listing to New york city from London and also cautioned of lower. than expected annual profit due to a weak commercial. building and construction market in the United States.

Ashtead signs up with a growing list of companies moving away from. European listings in favour of U.S. markets, where valuations. are normally greater.

Rare-earth element miners fell 1.7%, while. aerospace and defence stocks saw the greatest. sector fall, down 2.1%.

Separately, NCC Group dropped 15.3% to the bottom. of the mid-cap index after the cyber security firm swung to an. annual operating loss.

FirstGroup was an intense area, rising 6.5%, after the. public transport operator accepted acquire RATP London.

Investors waited for essential U.S. inflation data on Wednesday that. could seal bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut on Dec. 18.

In the UK, the spotlight is on Friday's gross domestic. item estimate for October, which could affect the Bank of. England's rate of interest trajectory. Traders anticipate the BoE to. hold rates in its policy choice next week.

British stocks saw their first regular monthly inflow in 5 years. in November, possibly marking a turning point, as low-cost. evaluations, political stability and Britain's relative resistance. to escalating trade stress draw in financiers.

Independently, British buyers faced increased pressure on. their budgets in November after grocery rate inflation edged. greater for the third month in a row, industry information showed.

Recruitment platform Certainly said job vacancies have dried up. much faster in the United Kingdom than in comparable nations over the. past year, indicating a loss of momentum in the economy in the. second half of 2024.

(source: Reuters)