FTSE hit by weak mining sector

Although drug group Shire was the biggest drag on the index with a drop of 2.79% to 940p, after its target price was cut over product delays and competition worries, while Home Retail slipped 2.26% to 399.25p. Among the miners Kazakhmys fell 2.55% to £11.85, after it announced the level of copper production had increased but other metals had fallen, while Vedanta Resources dropped 2.19% to £14.32, and BHP Billiton fell 2.06% to £10.00. Hanson posted the biggest gains with a rise of 2.32% to 727.5p, closely followed by Drax which gained 1.62% to 817p, while Kelda Group ended the sessio...