Falling metal prices drag FTSE lower

Rio Tinto is down 1.68% to £29.21, closely followed by Vedanta Resources which has slipped 1.61% to £14.66, while BAE Systems has dropped 1.62% to 409.25p, and Wolseley has fallen 1.82% to £11.84. Medical devices maker Smith & Nephew is the biggest drag on the index with a fall of 2.06% to 498.75, ahead of its upcoming third quarter figures, although losses are being limited by insurer Standard Life which is up 0.53% to 286.25p. Unilever is posting the biggest gains so far with a rise of 3.63% to £13.41, after reporting underlying sales growth for the third quarter of 3.9%, while Brambl...