U.K. equities finished the session lower on Tuesday, with the main domestic benchmark losing ground as several key sectors declined. At the London close the benchmark index was down 0.92%.
Sector-level pressure centered on Aerospace & Defense, Automobiles & Parts and Fixed Line Telecommunications, which collectively helped push the market lower by the end of trading.
Certain large-cap stocks outperformed amid the broader weakness. WPP PLC rose 2.84%, gaining 6.80 points to finish at 246.60. Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC climbed 2.51%, up 31.88 points to 1,299.88 and recorded a move to three-year highs for its share price. Imperial Brands PLC added 2.02%, or 62.00 points, to close at 3,139.00.
On the downside several notable names recorded heavier losses. Melrose Industries PLC declined 4.30%, falling 22.80 points to 507.20 at the close. Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC retreated 3.86%, down 45.90 points to 1,142.60 and Marks and Spencer Group PLC fell 3.45%, a drop of 12.20 points to 341.70.
Market breadth on the London Stock Exchange favored decliners: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones by 926 to 867, while 510 issues finished unchanged.
In the wider market of commodities and currencies, several instruments moved in mixed directions. Gold futures for June delivery were down 0.04%, a decrease of 1.85, to trade at $4,682.85 per troy ounce. Crude oil for May delivery rose 2.22%, up 2.50, to $114.91 a barrel, while the June Brent contract slipped 0.33%, down 0.36, to trade at $109.41 a barrel.
On the currency front, the British pound versus the U.S. dollar was effectively unchanged, moving 0.02% to 1.32. The euro-to-pound rate was also little changed, reported as unchanged 0.23% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index futures fell 0.12% to 99.69.
Summary takeaway: the session closed with the benchmark down modestly as a set of key sectors underperformed, even as a small group of stocks posted solid gains. Broader market participation leaned toward declines and commodity and currency prices posted mixed results during the day.