By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Mining stocks dropped in London on
Monday, keying off worries about major market China, where worries
about economic growth were joined by concerns about mass political
protests in Hong Kong.
Shares of iron-ore producers Anglo American Rio Tinto (RIO) each
fell 1.7%, leading losses on the FTSE 100. Rival BHP Billiton (BHP)
dropped 1.5%, also among the mining stocks that struggled.
Overnight, Hong Kong stocks tumbled 1.8% 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.
Banks, including HSBC PLC and Standard Chartered PLC, closed
branches in affected areas. HSBC shares in London lost 1.6%, and
Standard Chartered stock slumped 1.9%.
The FTSE 100 was off 0.5% at 6,6617.67.
On the FTSE 250 index , shares of Balfour Beatty sank 20% after
the engineering and construction company issued a profit
warning.
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