(ShareCast News) - Miners and oil related companies were leading the pack north after China's currency rose for a second day, boosting prices for most commodities.As of 0720 GMT the onshore yuan was trading at 6.8120 against the US dollar and was up by 0.80% against the greenback, its best level since 8 November 2016, as measures by Beijing to rein in foreign exchange purchases by residents began to bite.In turn, that sent the US dollar lower, with the greenback off by 1.36% to 101.36 as of 1627 GMT, and commodity prices higher, with three-month LME copper futures up by 2.6% at $5,645.00 a tonne as of 1330 GMT. Tin and zinc futures were also bolstered, with the latter rising 3.9% to $2,621 a tonne.Shares in precious metals' miners were especially strong as the prices of the underlying metals they are focused on jumped.Hochschild Mining was the best performer, rising 12.28% to 238.7p, with stock in Randgold Resources and Fresnillo close behind.Front month crude oil futures were also on the up, helping to shore up shares in the oil equipment and services space.Life insurance was at the bottom of the pile even as analysts at JP Morgan called attention to the sector's "attractive" dividend yields and "underappreciated" growth potential, "which may be further enhanced by the macroeconomic backdrop and improved outlook for rates."Aviva was among JP Morgan's preferred issues in the sector.Prudential and Legal&General on the other hand were best avoided, "as in our view their positive macro gearing is now more than reflected in valuations."In other news, Tesco was also under the cosh as Jefferies analyst James Grzinic and his colleagues trimmed their target on the shares from 185.0p to 180.0p."The outlook is murkier, with a challenged UK consumer likely providing renewed vigour to discounters. MRW's staying power should make the stock best positioned in this context. TSCO's multiples risk keeping the shares on the back-foot," they said. Top performing sectors so far todayMobile Telecommunications 4,738.00 +1.97%Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution 16,736.24 +1.73%General Industrials 5,661.02 +1.68%Mining 15,058.54 +1.52%Food Producers & Processors 7,875.80 +1.48%Bottom performing sectors so far todayLife Insurance 7,894.49 -1.57%Food & Drug Retailers 3,042.91 -1.20%Industrial Transportation 3,043.36 -0.65%Aerospace and Defence 4,568.71 -0.63%Insurance (non-life) 2,743.31 -0.35%