Morning Markets: Weak US data sends FTSE towards 5,000 mark

The FTSE 100 dropped 23.91 points (0.47%) to 5,023.9, prompting fears it could drop below the 5,000 point mark later today. Natural resources firms were hit particularly badly, with investors fearing a slow US manufacturing sector will hit demand for raw materials. Rangold Resources was the biggest loser, down 2.72% to £41.20, while Petrofac and Kazakhmys dropped 2.69% and 2.6% respectively. Prudential shares fell 2.7% to 576p after a Morningstar report suggested a fair value for the firm of 441p per share. It says the insurer has struggled to generate consistent growth. US sto...