By Carla Mozee and Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
ITV drops bid for 'Peppa Pig' owner; Glencore falls for second
day
U.K. stocks pulled back Thursday, with losses for drugmakers and
commodity producers leading the market's benchmark to a second
straight decline.
The FTSE 100 lost 0.3% to close at 6,816.90, ending off its
intraday low.
Earlier, the blue-chip benchmark fell by as much as 0.8% as
European equities sold off following an unexpected drop in business
sentiment in Germany, Europe's largest economy. Germany's DAX 30
dropped as much as 1.4% after the release of the Ifo survey for
August
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/germanys-ifo-index-falls-sharply-missing-views-2016-08-25).
"Germany, as the export powerhouse of Europe, has the most to
lose from U.K.'s exit from EU, but the sharp fall in Ifo reading
may be more a result of fear rather than reality," said Boris
Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset
Management, in a note.
The pound bought $1.3182, down from $1.3231 late Wednesday.
Drug stocks dragged down: On Thursday, the health-care sector
was making the worst showing, hit by a drug pricing backlash in the
U.S. after Mylan NV (MYL)substantially raised the price of its
EpiPen emergency allergy treatment
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/backlash-grows-against-mylans-epipen-price-hikes-2016-08-24).
The pharma sector was under pressure "after comments from
Hillary Clinton last night suggested that the (Democratic
presidential) candidate would look to put pressure on drugmakers to
cut prices," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG,
wrote in a note Thursday.
Mylan on Thursday said it would take "immediate action" to cut
costs for its EpiPen
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mylan-cuts-prices-for-epipens-after-pressure-from-congress-clinton-2016-08-25).
Drug stocks remained lower, with AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN)
(AZN.LN) down 1.4% and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (HIK.LN) off 3.5%.
Shire PLC (SHPG) (SHPG) shed 2.5% and GlaxoSmithKline PLC
(GSK.LN)(GSK.LN) gave up 0.3%.
Read:How Hillary Clinton crushed another rally in biotech
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-hillary-clinton-crushed-another-rally-in-biotech-2016-08-24)
Other movers: Shares of ITV PLC (ITV.LN) rose 0.5% after the
broadcaster dropped its bid for Entertainment One Ltd
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/itv-withdraws-offer-to-buy-entertainment-one-2016-08-25).(ETO.LN)
(ETO.LN), the producer and distributor behind the "Peppa Pig"
cartoon franchise. Entertainment One's shares slid 14%, closing at
the bottom of the midcap FTSE 250 index .
CRH PLC climbed 2.9% as the building materials supplier raised
its interim dividend and said it foresees posting full-year
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of
more than EUR3 billion. "CRH is another company which (like the
rest of us) is uncertain of the medium term effects of Brexit, but
has not seen any impact on its business so far," said Jasper
Lawler, market analyst at CMC Markets.
Read:Forget Brexit -- 1.4 billion brick shortage may be biggest
threat to U.K. housing market
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/forget-brexit-14-billion-brick-shortage-is-biggest-threat-to-uk-housing-market-2016-08-25)
Outside the main index, shares of Sports Direct International
PLC (SPD.LN) lost 1.5% after a group on influential investors
complained about the retailer's operational practices.
Commodities: Glencore shares continued to trade in the red on
Thursday, losing 2.6%. Other mining stocks fell as well, with Anglo
American PLC (AAL.LN) off 1.1% and BHP Billiton PLC (BLT.LN)
(BHP.AU) (BHP.AU) down 0.5%.
Commodities priced in U.S. dollars have come under pressure this
week as the greenback edged higher against a number of its rivals.
That move makes commodities more expensive to buy for holders of
other currencies.
"A stronger [U.S. dollar] and lower commodity prices (notably
oil hurting energy names, but also copper and iron ore) have dented
sentiment although most have since found their feet," said Accendo
Markets analysts Mike van Dulken and Augustin Eden in a note to
clients.
Read:Here's why copper is sitting out a big rally by industrial
metals
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-copper-is-sitting-out-a-big-rally-by-industrial-metals-2016-08-24)
"Traction is, nonetheless, rather lacking as investors begin
their typical shift to 'wait 'n' see' mode ahead of a speech by Fed
Chairwoman Janet Yellen tomorrow. Traders are, as always, hoping to
be able to decipher the path for U.S. monetary policy. They may be
left wanting. Again," the Accendo analysts said.
Yellen is slated to speak in Jackson Hole, Wyo., at 3 p.m.
London time, or 10 a.m. Eastern.
On Thursday, Kansas City Fed President Esther George told
Bloomberg it is "time to move" on interest rates
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wall-street-set-for-losses-as-yellen-speech-draws-closer-2016-08-25).
In a separate CNBC interview, she said hikes should be made
gradually. George was the lone dissenter in favor of a rate rise
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-appears-more-open-to-september-rate-hike-2016-07-27)
at the Fed's July policy meeting.
The Fed will next meet on Sept. 20 and 21.
Read:Fed might hike interest rates despite market objections
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-going-out-to-jackson-hole-to-get-divorce-from-markets-2016-08-23)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 25, 2016 12:18 ET (16:18 GMT)
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