At the close: Mining companies Glencore, Anglo American and BHP Billiton take FTSE 100 higher
The FTSE 100 ended Wednesday's session slightly higher, led by gains in mining companies.
The UK's top blue chip index ended the day 0.46 per cent up at 6,412 points.
The day's biggest riser was Glencore, the embattled mining giant, which has been struggling to reassure investors worried about the size of its debt pile. It today announced a debt reduction target and restated its guidance for the company’s more profitable trading division. Its share price rose 5.36 per cent during the day.
"Given how heavily they've fallen and then subsequently rallied thereafter, we still think they represent good value alongside some other picks in the mining sector," said Atif Latif, director of trading at Guardian Stockbrokers.
Anglo American also rose 3.06 per cent, while BHP Billiton rose 1.09 per cent and Fresnillo rose 1.24 per cent. Rio Tinto's share price rose 1.09 per cent.
Read more: FTSE 100 led higher by mining companies
Supermarket Morrison was the day's second largest winner as it share price rose 3.51 per cent.
Marks & Spencer also rose, having reported it recorded another period of declines in its general merchandise division, but top line figures suggested a slight improvement in performance as earnings per share climbed 4.9 per cent to 14.1p. It's share price rose 2.5 per cent.
Investec reiterated its "buy" rating on M&S' stock, along with a note that said: "Not the easiest of halves given the weather, but the increased flexibility in M&S’ business model stands out."
Read more: Countrywide shares are getting hammered
However, property markets were down again, with Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Group Holdings, Persimmon and Barrat Developments all among the top five losers, shedding 4.16 per cent, 3.38 per cent, 3.32 per cent and 2.47 per cent of their values respectively.
FTSE-listed builder Persimmon reported a 12 per cent sales hike in the third quarter this morning – but shares continued to slide after the sector had a spot of bother with a broker yesterday.
In the FTSE 250, Countrywide lost 11.20 per cent of its share price's value during the session, after the company issued a shock profits warning, blaming a slowdown in the housing market.