By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Mining stocks dropped in London on Monday as investors worried about stability in China, a major importer of metals, as political protests in Hong Kong combined with investors' concerns about slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.

Shares of iron-ore producer Anglo American fell 1.7% and Rio Tinto (RIO) lost 1.3% to become one of the leading losers on the benchmark FTSE 100 index. BHP Billiton (BHP) dropped 0.8%. China is a major importer of metals

Overnight, Hong Kong stocks tumbled 1.9% as the territory dealt with its most serious confrontation with Beijing in more than a decade. Police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse pro-democracy protesters who opposed Beijing's election plan for Hong Kong.

Banks, including HSBC PLC and Standard Chartered PLC, closed branches in affected areas. HSBC shares fared the worst on the FTSE 100, falling 2.4%. Standard Chartered stock slumped 1.6%.

China's response to the protests will determine how long they will continue to weigh on markets, CMC Markets market analyst Jasper Lawler wrote on Monday. A misstep by the Chinese government would put future growth of foreign direct investment in China at risk, as it could lead to the country "being ostracized in a similar fashion to Russia which could have even wider implications for global growth."

The FTSE 100 slipped nearly 3 points to 6,646.60, managing to finish above session lows.

Lloyds Banking Group ended down 0.3% after the company said it had fired eight employees for their "completely unacceptable" actions related to attempts to rig a number of benchmark interest rates, including the London interbank offered rate, or Libor. Llloyds, which is partially owned by the U.K. government, also said it took back 3 million pounds ($4.88 million) in bonuses from the unnamed staffers, who can appeal their dismissals.

Llloyds in July was fined roughly $370 million in penalties by U.K. and U.S. regulators for its role in the attempt of rate manipulation.

On the FTSE 250 index , shares of Balfour Beatty sank 15.3% after the engineering and construction company issued a profit warning.

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