FTSE falls on weak Wall Street

Miners Rio Tinto, Kazakhmys and Anglo American retreated after investors' profit-taking, with Rio Tinto down 2.44% to 2,634p, Kazakhmys falling 1.79% to 770p and Anglo American down 3.18% to 1,949p. UK insurers also took a tumble after Merrill Lynch chopped Prudential to "neutral", and life assurer ended down 2.18% to 561p, while Royal & Sun Alliance went down to "sell" on valuation grounds closed 2.39% lower at 561p. HBOS shares also dropped 1.50% to 960p on news it is to open 46 branches in Ireland in the next 14 months to challenge the dominance of its two big banks, AIB and Bank of ...