FTSE 100 Slides to July Lows as Mining Stocks Retreat

London’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index stumbled to its lowest point since late July today, dragged into the red by a bleak production outlook from Antofagasta. The mining giant's revised copper forecast triggered a sector-wide sell-off that effectively erased the optimism generated by earlier, stronger-than-expected economic growth figures for June.

Editorial·August 13, 2026·reads: 68

FTSE 100 Slides to July Lows as Mining Stocks Retreat

While the heavy hitters in the mining sector weighed down the primary index, the mid-cap FTSE 250 managed a marginal gain. This divergence highlights a shifting investor appetite, as market participants weigh robust domestic economic data against the cooling industrial outlook. The volatility underscores a fragile trading environment, where specific corporate guidance continues to hold more sway over index performance than broader macroeconomic indicators.