LONDON: U.K. stocks slumped the most in almost a month after swinging between gains and losses, led by a drop in miners including BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group.
The FTSE 100 Index dropped 1.2 percent to 6,946.28 at the close in London, after gaining as much as 0.4 percent earlier in the day. The benchmark sank lower after a report showed the U.S. economy grew at a slower pace than expected.
Antofagasta Plc dropped 2.2 percent after cutting its copper production forecast for the year. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto fell at least 1.6 percent. British American Tobacco Plc slipped 2.2 percent after a drop in tobacco consumption limited first-quarter sales growth.
Next Plc added 1.7 percent after the clothing retailer reported quarterly sales that beat estimates.
The broader FTSE All-Share Index fell 1.1 percent, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index retreated 3.3 percent.
