NEW YORK: U.K. stocks were little changed after gains in banks offset a decline in mining shares.
Barclays Plc, Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc all advanced 1.7 percent or more, tracking gains in European lenders. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group, the world’s biggest miners, fell 1.4 percent or more after disappointing Chinese factory data.
The FTSE 100 Index added less than 0.1 percent at the close in London. The gauge advanced 4.9 percent in October, the most since 2013, amid a rebound in commodity and energy producers. The broader FTSE All-Share Index was also little changed, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index rose 1.1 percent today.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals Inc. declined 5.2 percent after lowering the sales forecast for its generics business. EasyJet Plc dropped 2.1 percent after HSBC Holdings Plc downgraded the shares, citing increased revenue pressure.
