Mining firms lose and gain on FTSE 100

Mining companies listed on the FTSE 100 ended the day with mixed results following a confident start in the morning.

The FTSE 100 close 63.76 points up with a number of mining firms making significant losses and gains.

Anglo American was among the best performers in the sector, increasing 3.45 per cent or 43 points to close at 1291.

Antofagasta also performed well, recording a share price of 399.5 at the close up 10.75 points.

Meanwhile, fallers included Vedanta, which had 48 points wiped off its value to close with a share price of 588. Lonmin, down 23 points, and BHP Billiton, down 21.50 points, also suffered significant losses.

Standard Chartered and Prudential were among the top five risers, gaining 46.50 points and 20.50 points respectively.

HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland joined Vedanta on the list of top five fallers at the close.

This follows a boost to share prices this morning, following a rally on Wall Street last night that pushed the FTSE 100 up by 3.7 per cent.