The FTSE 100 slipped 0.5% on Tuesday, echoing a global equity selloff as weakness in US chipmakers and uncertainty ahead of the US midterm elections weighed on risk appetite. Mining stocks were among the main laggards: Antofagasta lost more than 3%, while Anglo American and Rio Tinto also retreated amid softer copper prices. Precious-metal miners were under pressure as well, with gold and silver prices declining. Gold hovered near a one-year low, dragged down by rising oil prices and persistent doubts over a potential resolution of the US-Iran conflict. Fresnillo fell 3%, and Endeavour shed 2.3%.
Associated British Foods dropped more than 2.5% after posting a decline in annual profit, reflecting weaker margins at Primark and ongoing challenges in its sugar division, though the company reiterated its plan to separate Primark by the end of 2027. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners eased about 2% despite third-quarter revenue coming in line with analyst forecasts and the company reaffirming its full-year guidance.
