LONDON MARKETS: HSBC Hits FTSE 100 After Disappointing Earnings

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Heavyweight bank HSBC Holdings PLC led U.K. stocks south on Monday after a disappointing earnings report, while mining firms trended lower amid concerns about China's property market.

The FTSE 100 index dropped 0.4% to 6,814.18, on track to break a six-day winning run.

Shares of HSBC (HSBC) lost 3.7% after the banking major posted a profit that fell short of expectations. Full-year 2013 pretax profit for the bank rose 9% to $22.56 billion, compared with $20.65 billion a year ago. A consensus forecast of analysts polled by Bloomberg News called for a profit of $24.6 billion.

Shares of RSA Insurance Group PLC gave up 2.6% after the company scrapped plans to raise emergency funds through a small group of investors and instead will press ahead with a cash call for at least 500 million pounds ($831 million) to be asked of all shareholders, according to The Times.

On a sector basis, mining firms posted some of the biggest losses on renewed concerns about a tightening in the Chinese property market. Stubbornly high property prices have triggered worries that a fresh round of market curbs by Beijing is looming. Adding to those fears, Chinese local media said a medium-sized bank has tightened its financing to property developers because of heightened risk.

Miners are sensitive to China's construction sector as the country is a major user of natural resources. Shares of Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) dropped 1.5%, Anglo American PLC lost 1.5%, Antofagasta PLC fell 1.2%, and BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) gave up 0.7%.

On a more upbeat note, shares of Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) rallied 7.7% as a share consolidation following the sale of its Verizon Wireless stake became effective.

Shares of Bunzl PLC picked up 5.2% after the distribution and outsourcing company reported an 8% rise in 2013 earnings per share.

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