Market round-up: Rate rise rumblings at BoE depress FTSE 100

The risk of inflation is rising and signals from the Bank of England (BoE) that it might need to act soon with a rate rise to check it pushed the FTSE 100 down Wednesday.

Budget airline easyJet was riding high, however, after it revealed better-than-predicted second quarter figures.

"EasyJet expects profit growth of 7-14% for the year to the end of September, which puts it back on track to meet analysts' forecasts of a 10% rise," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

"Strong demand for beach holidays helped to offset the impact of air traffic control strikes in France and a fire at Rome's Fiumicino airport that caused 1,364 cancelled flights."

The FTSE 100 closed out 22 July down -1.50% at 6,667.34 p.

Mining stocks — including Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo and Antofagasta — again took a drubbing.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

• easyJet Plc +82.00 (+4.92%) 1,748.00
• RSA Insurance Group +9.30 (+2.11%) 449.50
• International Consolidated Airlines Group SA +9.50 (+1.69%) 570.00
• Sage Group Plc +5.50 (+1.03%) 541.00
• CRH Plc +15.00 (+0.81%) 1,876.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

• ARM Holdings Plc -69.00 (-6.64%) 970.00
• BHP Billiton Plc -71.50 (-5.71%) 1,180.00
• Anglo American -48.20 (-5.59%) 813.50
• Glencore Plc -13.05 (-5.41%) 228.00
• Weir Group Plc -89.00 (-5.37%) 1,568.00

FTSE AIM 100 biggest risers

• Gemfields Plc +2.75 (+4.72%) 61.00
• Xeros Group Plc +10.75 (+4.39%) 255.75
• Breedon Aggregates Ltd +2.00 (+3.96%) 52.50
• Clinigen Group Plc +25.50 (+3.82%) 693.50
• RWS Holdings Plc +5.00 (+3.57%) 145.25

FTSE AIM 100 biggest fallers

• Restore Plc -17.50 (-6.52%) 251.00
• Pan African Resources Plc -0.37 (-4.92%) 7.15
• Scapa Group Plc -9.00 (-4.39%) 196.00
• James Halstead Plc -13.25 (-3.01%) 426.25
• Velocys Plc -2.50 (-2.85%) 85.25