Weak metal prices drag FTSE down

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The FTSE 100 index has started the day down 18.6 points or 0.3% to 6,221.3, as weak metal prices is putting pressure on the mining sector.

Kazakhmys is the biggest faller with a drop of 2.29% to £10.26, after reporting a slim rise in copper production in 2006, with copper cathode production up 5% for the year to December while copper in concentrate production increased 9%. Antofagasta is also down 1.54% to 447p, closely followed by Vedanta Resources which has slipped 1.33% to £11.15, while Lonmin is down 1.32% to £29.09, and BHP Billiton has dropped 1.28% to 928p. On the upside, ITV is posting the biggest gains with a rise of 1.64% to 108.5p, while Smith & Nephew is up 1.15% to 573.75p, Drax has gained 0.96% to 682p, and...

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