London midday: Investors flee from risk ahead of US elections

5th Nov 2012 11:26

- Investors risk averse ahead of elections- UK services PMI disappoints- Greece to vote on austerityNervousness ahead of the US presidential elections saw stocks head lower on Monday morning, with losses cemented by a worse-than-expected reading of service-sector activity in the UK.In regards to the elections Stateside, market analyst Craig Erlam said: "With the race so close, investors are understandably risk averse today. The outcome of the election is likely to have a significant impact on the markets, not just in the US but abroad as well. "As the world's largest economy, global sentiment usually feeds off what is happening in the US markets, as witnessed recently by the positive impact from the Fed's QE3 programme and the negative impact from the US corporate earnings season."Economic data from closer to home failed to lift sentiment this morning: the UK services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell from 52.2 to 50.6 in October, well below the consensus esteem of 52.0 and the long-run average of 54.9. "With the rate of expansion significantly below its long-run average the services sector does not seem to have the strength to drive a strong recovery in the economy, in our view," said analyst Blerina Uruci from Barclays Research.Meanwhile, the HSBC China services PMI fell from a four-month high of 54.3 to 53.5 in October, contrasting with the official services PMI from the National Bureau of Statistics this weekend, which rose from 53.7 to 55.5.Markets will also be keeping an eye on Greece today ahead of critical parliamentary votes on austerity. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said: "We have to save the country from catastrophe...Leaving the euro would be a nightmare and we intend to avert it." FTSE 100: Miners and financials weigh on FootsieMining stocks were providing a drag as investors digested the economic figures from China. Vedanta, ENRC, Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta were heavy fallers this morning.Banking giant HSBC was under the weather after reported pre-tax profit fell from $3.7bn to $3.5bn in the third quarter. As well as further provisions for PPI redress, third-quarter results included an additional provision of $800m in relation to the ongoing anti-money laundering investigation in the US. Lloyds was also unwanted.Leading the upside was engineering group Weir after saying that it is set to deliver double-digit profit growth this year despite weak order inputs and a slowdown in growth in the third quarter. Supermarket giant Morrisons was also making gains ahead of its third-quarter trading update on Thursday. Speaking last week, Seymour Pierce analyst Kate Calvert said: "Recent market share data points to continued deterioration in sales trends and so a weak number is expected by the market."Insurance goliath Prudential fell after entering into a long-term exclusive bancassurance partnership in Thailand with Thai firm Thanachart Bank.Oil and gas giant BG Group was lower ager agreeing a new five-year $3bn syndicated committed credit facility, expiring $2.3bn of expiring bilateral committed credit lines.FTSE 250: Centamin surges after Sukari updateGold miner Centamin rocketed this morning after the Egyptian administrative court decided that its flagship Sukari mining licence is valid, reassured investors who took profits last week on rumours that the company could lose its primary source of revenue. ??Data centre operator Telecity dropped despite saying that full-year earnings will be in line with market forecasts. Consensus estimates for the full year ending December 31st are for pre-tax profits of £81.66m on revenues of £284.35m. ??LED lighting group Dialight gained after securing a "major order" for 1,224 LED fixtures from an unnamed, Texas-based rig owner and operator.Talvivaara dropped after revealing that a leakage in the gypsum pond at its mine site means that metals production is temporarily suspended. FTSE 100 - RisersWeir Group (WEIR) 1,847.00p +5.48%GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,383.50p +1.62%International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI) (IAG) 170.80p +1.01%BAE Systems (BA.) 320.40p +0.95%Bunzl (BNZL) 1,023.00p +0.79%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 265.80p +0.76%Smith & Nephew (SN.) 641.50p +0.55%Capital Shopping Centres Group (CSCG) 339.00p +0.50%Meggitt (MGGT) 380.40p +0.34%British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,108.00p +0.34%FTSE 100 - FallersEurasian Natural Resources Corp. (ENRC) 324.50p -2.70%Vedanta Resources (VED) 1,129.00p -2.67%ITV (ITV) 87.25p -2.51%Kazakhmys (KAZ) 717.50p -2.38%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,148.00p -2.05%Amec (AMEC) 1,060.00p -2.03%Wood Group (John) (WG.) 854.50p -1.95%G4S (GFS) 259.70p -1.81%Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,292.00p -1.75%Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 276.40p -1.74%FTSE 250 - RisersCentamin (DI) (CEY) 74.20p +22.64%Dialight (DIA) 1,178.00p +3.97%Stobart Group Ltd. (STOB) 110.40p +2.22%JD Sports Fashion (JD.) 761.00p +2.15%SDL (SDL) 531.00p +2.12%Ocado Group (OCDO) 63.65p +1.68%Redrow (RDW) 160.90p +1.45%Paragon Group Of Companies (PAG) 249.80p +1.17%easyJet (EZJ) 641.00p +1.10%Ashtead Group (AHT) 382.80p +0.95%FTSE 250 - FallersTelecity Group (TCY) 848.00p -7.12%Dixons Retail (DXNS) 24.26p -6.11%Talvivaara Mining Company (TALV) 127.80p -5.61%Bumi (BUMI) 269.40p -4.81%Ferrexpo (FXPO) 217.10p -4.32%Lonmin (LMI) 486.40p -3.49%Inmarsat (ISAT) 559.50p -3.28%IP Group (IPO) 116.10p -3.25%New World Resources A Shares (NWR) 259.20p -3.07%Homeserve (HSV) 228.10p -3.02%BC