The FTSE 100 ended modestly lower on Monday, closing down 0.1% at 7,544.89 as a late-day rally helped pare earlier losses. The FTSE 250 rose 0.3% to 18,750.39 and the AIM All-Share added 0.3% to 725.33.
Rolls-Royce Holdings led advancers with a 2.4% gain after analysts at Citi and Deutsche Bank raised their price targets. At the other end, miners Glencore and Fresnillo fell 3.8% and 0.8% respectively on weak data from top metals consumer China.
Anglo American declined sharply on Friday but added 0.8% Monday after analysts suggested it could become a takeover target if its fortunes do not improve. Jefferies pointed to Glencore as a potential bidder.
Defense tech firm QinetiQ rose 2.4% after JPMorgan upgraded its rating and said stock weakness represents a “buying opportunity.”
On AIM, surveillance systems provider Synectics surged 25% on a strong order book and earnings that will “materially” top forecasts. Its £28.6 million order book at fiscal year-end was up from £24.4 million last year.