The FTSE 100 is slightly higher, up a handful of points to 7,185.12 amid competing influences.

A rally in the mining sector and among Asian-focused stocks on hopes of a resolution to US/China trade tensions is counterbalanced by stronger sterling amid reports of a possible Brexit delay.

FTSE 100 housebuilder Persimmon (PSN) is a notable faller, down 7% to £22.94 on weekend reports (paywall) that its contract to sell homes under the Help to Buy Scheme might be under threat thanks to concerns over the running of the company held by housing minister James Brokenshire.

Peers such as Taylor Wimpey (TW.) and Barratt Developments (BDEV) follow Persimmon lower, slipping 2.6% to 163.2p and 2.5% to 560.6p respectively.

Business supplies distributor Bunzl (BNZL) is down 3% to £24.62 despite posting adjusted profit of £559m, slightly ahead of expectations.

While the company was generally reassuring on the impact of Brexit, investors may have been spooked by margin pressure and a warning on changes in attitudes and regulation towards single-use plastics.

Primark-owner Associated British Foods (ABF) is down 1% to £22.89 as it points to half-year sales up 4% boosted by new store openings but flags a larger than expected 2% fall in like-for-like sales - analysts had pencilled in a 1.6% decline.

Press rumours (paywall) that Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) is mulling the sale of its remaining 49% interest in financial sector publisher and data firm Euromoney (ERM), with the aim of returning proceeds to shareholders, lifts the company 2% to 628.5p. Euromoney shares slip 0.5% to £12.94.

Mining group Centamin (CEY) dives 14.7% to 114.6p as it reports a fall fourth quarter profit year-on-year to $50.5m thanks to lower gold sales.

Shopping centre investor Hammerson (HMSO) is down 2.9% to 360.2p as it says it has won the backing of activist shareholder Elliott Advisors to sell more assets to bolster its balance sheet and expand its board. Falling occupancy at its malls, which include Birmingham’s Bullring, saw net rental income fall 6.2% year-on-year to £347.5m in 2018.

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Issue Date: 25 Feb 2019