Markets round-up: FTSE 100 fails to hold early gains but finishes near record high

Mining companies led the charge on the FTSE 100 on 14 April, bouncing back from a dismal period a day earlier, but the index failed to hold early gains.

BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Antofagasta staged a dramatic turnaround, making it into the top five market risers on after they finished on 13 April among the five biggest losers.

They were joined by the commodities behemoth Glencore and Rio Tinto among the stocks that saw a rise of more than 2%. Mining firms saw a boost from as metals prices rebounded from earlier lows.

Meanwhile, UK inflation was calculated at zero for the second month in a row, which helped the FTSE peak near record highs early on 14 April but it slipped back to 7,075.26 at closing.

The top riser was engineering company Weir Group, whose stock rose more than 5% and led the FTSE close to a new record high.

Among the fallers, Hargreaves Lansdown reported co-founder Peter Hargreaves had stepped down from the board. Aberdeen Asset Management shares fell after it was downgraded to "underperform" by RBC Capital Markets.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

Weir Group plc +93.00 (+5.20%) 1,882.50
Anglo American +39.80 (+3.99%) 1,039.00
BHP Billiton plc +41.50 (+2.93%) 1,458.00
Antofagasta Holdings +21.00 (+2.91%) 743.00
Glencore +8.05 (+2.82%) 293.13

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

Shire plc -145.00 (-2.55%) 5,535.00
Aberdeen Asset Management -12.70 (-2.51%) 493.80
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA -14.50 (-2.38%) 595.50
Hargreaves Lansdown plc -27.00 (-2.18%) 1,210.00
Standard Chartered plc -22.50 (-2.03%) 1,083.50

AIM 100 biggest risers

Renew Holdings Plc +18.00 (+7.48%) 258.50
Hutchison China Meditech +95.00 (+6.35%) 1,5950.00
GW Pharmaceutical +27.50 (+4.92%) 587.00
Utility Wise plc +9.00 (+4.39%) 214.00
Mulberry Group +36.25 (+4.19%) 901.50

AIM 100 biggest fallers

First Derivatives Plc -71.00 (-6.09%) 1,094.00
Petroceltic International plc -5.50 (-4.31%) 122.00
Retroscreen Virology -8.50 (-3.00%) 275.00
Earthport plc -1.38 (-2.93%) 45.63
Globo Plc -1.25 (2.65%) 46.00