FTSE down 1% as miners hit

Shortly after opening, London's leading index was almost 50 points, or 0.88%, lower at 5,658. A fall in raw materials prices weakened mining shares, with Kazakhmys, Xstrata, Eurasian Natural Resources, Rio Tinto and Anglo American all more than 2% down. Sentiment was also hit following disappointing results in the US and Asia. Improved consumer confidence across the Atlantic failed to translate into positive market activity, with the Dow Jones closing just five points higher at 11,169. Meanwhile, in Asia, stock markets were mostly lower with Tokyo's market giving up early gains....