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The inflation rate has hovered around the 0% line for months, but an interest rate rise is not far in the future as that changes iStock

The risk of inflation is rising and signals from the Bank of England (BoE) that it might need to act soon with a rate rise to check it pushed the FTSE 100 down Wednesday.

Budget airline easyJet was riding high, however, after it revealed better-than-predicted second quarter figures.

"EasyJet expects profit growth of 7-14% for the year to the end of September, which puts it back on track to meet analysts' forecasts of a 10% rise," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

"Strong demand for beach holidays helped to offset the impact of air traffic control strikes in France and a fire at Rome's Fiumicino airport that caused 1,364 cancelled flights."

The FTSE 100 closed out 22 July down -1.50% at 6,667.34 p.

Mining stocks — including Anglo American, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto, Fresnillo and Antofagasta — again took a drubbing.

FTSE 100 biggest risers

  • easyJet Plc +82.00 (+4.92%) 1,748.00
  • RSA Insurance Group +9.30 (+2.11%) 449.50
  • International Consolidated Airlines Group SA +9.50 (+1.69%) 570.00
  • Sage Group Plc +5.50 (+1.03%) 541.00
  • CRH Plc +15.00 (+0.81%) 1,876.00

FTSE 100 biggest fallers

  • ARM Holdings Plc -69.00 (-6.64%) 970.00
  • BHP Billiton Plc -71.50 (-5.71%) 1,180.00
  • Anglo American -48.20 (-5.59%) 813.50
  • Glencore Plc -13.05 (-5.41%) 228.00
  • Weir Group Plc -89.00 (-5.37%) 1,568.00

FTSE AIM 100 biggest risers

  • Gemfields Plc +2.75 (+4.72%) 61.00
  • Xeros Group Plc +10.75 (+4.39%) 255.75
  • Breedon Aggregates Ltd +2.00 (+3.96%) 52.50
  • Clinigen Group Plc +25.50 (+3.82%) 693.50
  • RWS Holdings Plc +5.00 (+3.57%) 145.25

FTSE AIM 100 biggest fallers

  • Restore Plc -17.50 (-6.52%) 251.00
  • Pan African Resources Plc -0.37 (-4.92%) 7.15
  • Scapa Group Plc -9.00 (-4.39%) 196.00
  • James Halstead Plc -13.25 (-3.01%) 426.25
  • Velocys Plc -2.50 (-2.85%) 85.25
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