The FTSE 100 was modestly lower, down 0.12% to 7,211.74, in early trading as weakness in the mining sector overshadowed some decent UK economic data.
However, the index remains above the 7,200 mark and is in touching distance of yesterday’s post-pandemic highs.
AJ Bell financial analyst Danni Hewson noted that “Rio Tinto shares slumped heavily as they traded without entitlement to a pretty generous dividend.”
“For now there appear few big catalysts to shift the index in either direction amid a lull in major corporate and economic updates – however that’s often when something emerges from leftfield to upset the apple cart,” Hewson added.
FTSE 100 Top Movers
Aviva (3.98%), Polymetal International (1.93%) and Hargreaves Lansdown (1.85%) lead the way on the FTSE 100 on Thursday.
While at the other end, Rio Tinto (-7.21%), Evraz (-6.38%) and Legal and General (-1.68%), were dragging the FTSE 100 back.