UK's blue-chip index hit more than one-month lows on Friday, with commodity, travel, and banking stocks slumping after a newly detected and possibly vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant sapped risk appetite among global investors.
London copper prices fell on Friday, as a newly identified COVID-19 variant in South Africa fuelled concerns over its impact on economic growth and dented risk appetite.
Rio Tinto Ltd boss Jakob Stausholm has made his first trip to Mongolia while in the top job to meet Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene as Rio looks to relieve an impasse over the development of a huge copper mine.
Nickel neared seven-year highs and tin reached a record peak before taking a breather later on Thursday, both boosted by low inventories which pointed to tight supply and China's efforts to support its economy which bolstered the outlook for demand.
London copper rose to a one-month high on Thursday, helped by China's efforts to bolster its cash-strapped property sector and on concerns over tight global supply, while a weaker dollar made greenback-priced metals cheaper for holders of other currencies.