A warning overnight from the US Federal Reserve on the economic outlook and growing coronavirus infections around the globe caused investors to take fright with the FTSE 100 down 1.6% to 6,015.62.
Copper miner Antofagasta (ANTO) has tumbled 2.5% to £11.20 after it announced that its first-half revenue was down 15.3% as a result of copper prices 12.5% lower and sales volumes.
Group copper production guidance is at the lower end of the original 725-755,000 tonnes range and is on the basis that there are no Covid-19 related shutdowns during the rest of the year.
Online electrical retailer AO World (AO.) gained 4.6% to 202p as the online electrical retailer reported that in the four months ended 31 July 2020, it recorded strong year-on-year revenue growth in the UK of 58.9% to £401.3 million and of 91.5% to €74.3m in Germany on sustained demand for its products and services.
Building products firm CRH (CRH) has shed 0.4% to £29.96 on the news that first-half like-for-like sales 3% below the first half of 2019 at $12.2bn due to significant disruption in the second quarter as a result of Covid-19.
The company has warned of 'limited visibility' for the fourth quarter and into 2021.
Car seller Vertu Motors (VTU:AIM) accelerated 8.3% to 23.6p as it posted adjusted pre-tax profit of £7.4 million for the month significantly up on the same month a year ago and ahead of the company's business plan as customer demand returned.
Oil and gas firm Premier Oil (PMO) fell 17.3% to 28.1p as it swung to a loss on lower production in the six months to 30 June 2020.
Separately the company announced plans to ask investors for a further $300m, on top of the $230 million sought for the acquisition of assets from BP (BP.), as it looked to refinance its borrowings. Premier is sitting on net debt of $1.9 billion.
The company reported a post-tax loss of $32 million before non-cash charges of $639 million adding up to an overall loss of $672m compared with a profit of $121 million in the first half of 2019.
Sportswear and department store retailer Frasers (FRAS), previously Sports Direct International, has climbed 12.3% to 343.4p after it announced a 6.9% increase in group revenue as revenues across UK sports retail and premium lifestyle were buoyed by acquisitions.
Frasers' acquisitions during the full year included GAME Digital, Jack Wills, Sofa.com and Brookfield Unit Trust.
Baby and kid products specialist Mothercare (MTC) is 4.2% higher to 6p as it unveiled a new business model after talks with its franchisees.
The new arrangements will see its franchise partners pay manufacturers directly for products.
John Laing (JLG) has lost 1.8% to 3.24p after the infrastructure group reported a decline in group net asset value driven by challenges in its renewable energy projects, while its PPP portfolio delivered a solid financial and operational performance in the first half of 2020.
