Financial market research and analysis

Miners are in trouble as metal prices languish with BHP Billiton (-6.23%), Anglo American (-7.77%) and Antofagasta (-4.73%) all plunging new depths. 

Burberry (-3%) owing to its exposure to China is also underwater, the share price has been falling for several days and while off the lows is now back to levels last seen in October 2012.

If there’s a bright spot, it’s hard to find but Marks and Spencer (+0.18%) is at time of writing the only riser. While food sales were decent, third-quarter sales of general merchandise were down by 5.8% for the thirteen weeks to 26 December. Once again warm weather has been blamed for some of the demise but the stepping down of Marc Bolland is being taken as a minor positive by shareholders.

Persimmon (-0.76%) said on Thursday that its revenue rose 13 percent last year as it built more homes, boosted by strong sales in the second half of the year. Revenue rose to 2.9 billion pounds in 2015, slightly above market expectations. After almost 30 years with the company, Persimmon’s south division chief executive Nigel Greenaway is also taking early retirement. He goes in April.