U.K. stocks ended the trading day in negative territory on Monday, with sector-specific declines driving the market lower at the close in London. The Investing.com United Kingdom 100 slipped 0.65% as losses in consumer-facing construction names, industrial engineering firms and aerospace and defence companies outweighed pockets of strength.
Index movement and market breadth
At the close in London, the Investing.com United Kingdom 100 was down 0.65%. Decliners outnumbered advancers on the London Stock Exchange by 1,095 to 692, and 504 shares finished unchanged, signalling broadly negative breadth across the market.
Top gainers
- Centrica PLC (LON:CNA) led the list of movers higher, gaining 3.50% or 6.90 points to finish at 204.30.
- BP PLC (LON:BP) added 2.94% or 15.90 points to close at 556.90.
- Shell PLC (LON:SHEL) rose 2.46% or 78.50 points to end the session at 3,274.50.
Weakest performers
- Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO) was the biggest faller, down 4.43% or 175.50 points to 3,783.50 at the close.
- Barratt Redrow PLC (LON:BTRW) declined 3.98% or 11.10 points to finish at 268.00.
- Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTYV) slipped 3.70% or 13.60 points to 354.00.
Commodities and currencies
Commodity prices moved unevenly in the session. Gold futures for June delivery fell 1.25% or 60.91 to $4,818.69 a troy ounce. Conversely, crude oil for June delivery climbed 5.86% or 4.84 to $87.43 a barrel, while the June Brent contract rose 5.49% or 4.96 to trade at $95.34 a barrel.
In foreign exchange markets, GBP/USD was essentially unchanged, moving 0.18% to 1.35, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.87, shifting 0.01%. The US Dollar Index Futures edged down 0.05% to 97.85.
Takeaway
Monday's close reflected sector-driven weakness concentrated in Household Goods & Home Construction, Industrial Engineering and Aerospace & Defense, while energy names posted gains amid rising oil prices. Market breadth favoured decliners, and commodities presented mixed signals for investors heading into the next session.