Financial News

LONDON (ShareCast) - 1345: Resource stocks dominate the fallers in a downbeat FTSE 100. Miner ENRC is at the bottom of the pile. In other sectors, RSA Insurance (LSE: RSA.L - news) is lower amid talk of a cash call. Among the risers is AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN.L - news) , which said it is to submit its cardiovascular drug Brilinta for regulatory approval in the fourth quarter of 2009. FTSE 100 down 57 at 4,851.

1210: Miners are still weighing down the FTSE 100, with ENRC currently the heaviest faller in the sector. RSA Insurance is the heaviest faller amid talk of a cash call. Among the risers are AstraZeneca which said it is to submit its cardiovascular drug Brilinta for regulatory approval in the fourth quarter of 2009. FTSE 100 down 60 at 4,848.

1025: Footsie (news) remains firmly in the red after taking a sharp dive into the red despite a steady start. Miners are weighing on the index, with platinum specialist Lonmin (LSE: LMI.L - news) the heaviest faller. On the plus side, drug group AstraZeneca is going well after saying it is to submit its cardiovascular drug Brilinta for regulatory approval in the fourth quarter of 2009. FTSE 100 down 47 at 4,861.

0935: Footsie has taken a downward dive as miners continue to weigh heavily on the leading share index. Kazakh miner ENRC is the heaviest faller. Defensive stocks such as the drug groups AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK.L - news) and British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS.L - news) are higher. FTSE 100 down 51 at 4,857.

0915: Footsie has drifted off slightly with miners weighing on the leading share index. Kazakh miner ENRC is the heaviest faller. Defensive stocks such as the drug groups AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline and British American Tobacco are higher. FTSE 100 down 19 at 4,889.

0835: London's blue chips have made a quiet start to the post-holiday season. Gainers are the defensive groups pharmas, tobacco and spirits, which reminded of their strengths last week with decent dividend increases. BAT, AstraZeneca and Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) are all going well. Reports that RSA made need to raise cash have sent it to the bottom of the pile. FTSE 100 down 3 at 4,906.