Miners pull FTSE into red

Barclays is down 2.27% to 279p after confirming it is in talks with BlackRock and other interested parties regarding the sale of its iShares and broader BGI businesses. Lloyds Banking Group shares slumped 3.63% to 68.3 despite the bank confirming an 87% take-up of its recent rights issue. Remaining shares will now be sold on the market for not less than 38.3p, with the Government purchasing the shares should Lloyds fail to find the buyers. Meanwhile, miners struggled in early trading. Vedanta Resources dropped 3.9% to £16.03 while Anglo American fell 3.5% to £17.92. Gold and silver mine...