FTSE Moves: Top-flight shares fall after poor factory data

The London stock market was lower in afternoon trading following the latest in a series of disappointing economic reports in the wake of the UK's Brexit vote.

Activity among UK manufacturers contracted at its fastest pace for three years in July, according to the Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers' index, with the survey standing at 48.2, down from 52.4 in June.

The FTSE 100 Index fell 41.1 points to 6683.3, after the survey hit its lowest reading since February 2013.

IG market analyst Joshua Mahony said: "This is certainly the knee-jerk reaction to the referendum result, yet it will take time to really understand what the true implication of a Brexit will be for UK business."

In afternoon trading the biggest risers on the FTSE 100 Index were Anglo American (+18.2p to 848.7p), Hikma Pharmaceuticals (+46p to 2680p), BHP Billiton (+15.6p to 960.3p), Associated British Foods (+44p to 2735p) and Shire (+58p to 4929p).

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 Index were Taylor Wimpey (-7.6p to 147.1p), Berkeley Group (-100p to 2583p), Barratt Developments (-16.3p to 421.2p), Persimmon (-51p to 1636p), International Airlines Group (-11.6p to 394.4p).

In afternoon trading the biggest risers on the FTSE 250 Index were Senior (+21.8p to 226.7p), Acacia Mining (+25p to 584.5p), Fidessa Group (+98p to 2538p), Rank Group (+7.8p to 230.3p) and CMC Markets (+7.7p to 285.9p).

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 250 Index were Keller Group (-112.5p to 906.5p), Sophos Group (-19p to 230p), Vedanta Resources (-38p to 535.5p), Countrywide (-14.6p to 233.4p) and Bovis Homes Group (-46.5p to 772p).