LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Oil, Mining Stocks Hit By Global Growth Jitters

LONDON (Alliance News) - The FTSE 100 tumbled on Tuesday as markets in the US and Asia got a chance to react to the International Monetary Fund's downgraded global growth forecasts.Also keeping pressure on London's blue-chip index, which comprises a large number of overseas earners, was a stronger pound after official figures showed UK wages rose at the fastest pace in a decade.The FTSE 100 index closed down 69.20 points, or 1.0%, at 6,901.39. The FTSE 250 ended down 95.80 points, or 0.5%, at 18,667.03, and the AIM All-Share finished 3.90 points lower, or 0.4%, at 910.66.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 11,716.97, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.3% at 16,700.37, and the Cboe Small Companies ended up 0.1% at 11,133.90."The reasons for the [FTSE 100] index's accelerated decline - it returned to 6,900 as it slipped nearly 60 points - appeared to be twofold. Firstly, its China-fearing commodity sector seemed more and more uneasy as the day went on, Brent crude leading the shift lower," explained Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell."Secondly, the pound looked positively chipper," he continued. "The morning's 10 year high wage growth reading was the main catalyst for the growth, though the ongoing hopes that the UK will avoid a 'no-deal' Brexit are presumably playing their part as well."The pound was quoted at USD1.2955 at the London equities close Tuesday, compared to USD1.2899 at the close on Monday.The Office for National Statistics said average earnings in the UK increased by 3.4% in the year to November, the highest for a decade and up from the 3.3% growth reported for October.The country's jobless rate is now 4.0%, down by 0.2 percentage point on a year ago, and the lowest level since 1975.Meanwhile, Brent oil was quoted at USD60.87 a barrel at the London equities close Tuesday, down from USD62.38 late Monday, amid worries over slowing economic growth in China.This comes after data on Monday showed the world's second largest economy grew 6.6% in 2018, the slowest rate since 1990.Compounding these concerns, the International Monetary Fund in its latest World Economic Outlook report on Monday cut its estimate for global growth in 2019, highlighting US-China trade tensions and the risk of a no-deal Brexit.The world economy is projected to grow 3.5% in 2019, before picking up slightly to 3.6% in 2020. In October, global growth had been seen at 3.7% in 2019 and 3.7% in 2020.The fall in Brent dragged down London's oil majors, with BP closing 1.0% lower while Royal Dutch Shell 'A' shares shed 2.5% and 'B' shares 2.9%. Oilfield services provider John Wood Group closed 4.1% lower.Industrial miners were also hit, with Rio Tinto closing down 2.2%, Glencore down 2.1% and Antofagasta down 2.0%.Fellow miner BHP Group shed 2.0% as it reported a number of operational difficulties during its first half, though upgraded its copper production guidance.For the six months to December, BHP's copper output fell 1% year-on-year to 825,000 tonnes. For the second quarter, production was down 3% year-on-year but up 2% quarter-on-quarter to 416,000 tonnes.Copper output guidance for the year ending June has been increased to between 1.65 million tonnes and 1.74 million tonnes, from 1.62 million tonnes and 1.71 million tonnes before."Production in the first half was broadly in line with the prior period despite planned maintenance and outages," said Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie.Though industrial commodities were smarting, gold remained firm, quoted at USD1,280.92 an ounce at the London equities close Tuesday against USD1,279.95 at the close on Monday.easyJet finished at the top of the FTSE 100, up 5.3%, after the low-cost airline reaffirmed its annual guidance despite booking GBP10 million in costs related to the drone disruption which racked London's Gatwick airport in December.For the three months to December 31, 2018, the budget airline's total revenue increased 14% to GBP1.30 billion from GBP1.14 billion a year prior. Passenger revenue was up 12% to GBP1.03 billion from GBP914.0 million, while ancillary revenue increased 20% to 271.0 million from 226.0 million.The Gatwick disturbances, affecting 82,000 customers, cost easyJet GBP10 million, as 400 easyJet flights were cancelled while authorities searched for the drone owner between December 19 and 21.IG Group Holdings ended as the worst performer in the FTSE 250, down 9.5% after the online trading platform posted an interim drop in profit and revenue amid new European regulation.For the half to the end of November 30, pretax profit fell 17% to GBP113.0 million from GBP136 million a year before, on net trading revenue that declined 6.0% from GBP251.0 million from GBP268.4 million.During the period, the European Securities & Markets Authority regulatory measures came into effect, with the prohibition of offering binary options to retail clients, and restrictions on providing contracts-for difference to retail clients.As a result of the regulatory changes, revenue for the year ending July 31 is expected to be lower than the GBP590.2 million reported the prior year. Operating costs for the year are expected to remain at a similar level to the GBP290 million reported the year before.At the other end of the mid-cap index was Dixons Carphone, closing up 3.9% after reporting a good peak trading performance over the festive season.For the 10 weeks ended January 5, the electronics retailer posted a 1% rise in like-for-like revenue. Reported revenue overall was flat on the previous year.Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, commented: "Another Christmas trading update and another retailer which hasn't shocked the market with a profit warning. Dixons Carphone has managed to keep its head above water with festive trading which means it can maintain full year earnings guidance."In Dixon's UK & Ireland electricals, revenue was up 2% on the comparative period a year ago, both on a reported and like-for-like basis. The increase was driven by a standout performance in TV, Dixons explained, despite a challenging backdrop and a declining market.Another retailer on the rise was Pets at Home, shares gaining 9.8% after the retailer and veterinary services provider reported third quarter revenue growth.For the 12-week period to January 3, the retailer said group revenue rose 6.3% to GBP237.2 million from GBP223.3 million in the comparative period a year ago. The increase was 5.1% on a like-for-like basis.Retail revenue increased 5.5% to GBP213.4 million from GBP202.3 million. On a like-for-like basis it was up 4.7%. The company's Vet Group revenue was up 14% year-on-year to GBP23.8 million from GBP21.0 million. On a like-for-like basis, it increased 9.1%. In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 30 in Frankfurt both ended down 0.4%.The euro stood at USD1.1358 at the European equities close Tuesday, soft against USD1.1368 at the same time on Monday.Stocks in New York were lower at the London equities close, with the Dow Jones down 0.7%, the S&P 500 index down 0.9%, and the Nasdaq Composite sliding 1.1%.In the economic calendar on Wednesday, the Bank of Japan releases its latest interest rate decision at 0200 GMT which will be followed by a press conference. In the UK, the CBI industrial trends survey is at 1100 GMT and in the US is the Redbook index at 1355 GMT. Eurozone consumer confidence is at 1500 GMT. In the UK corporate calendar is a third quarter update from fashion house Burberry, while miners Antofagasta and Fresnillo release full-year production results and pub operators Marston's and JD Wetherspoons put out trading statements. There are also trading updates from stationary and books retailer WH Smith and IT firm Computacenter.