AlQa'dah 03, 1436, August 18, 2015, SPA -- Britain's top share index slipped lower on Tuesday, hit by a pick-up in inflation and falling energy and mining stocks weighed down by weakening metals and oil prices, Reuters reported. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was down by 0.6 percent at 6,512.87 points in early trading, about 9 percent below a record high of 7,122.74 points reached in April. Data showing British inflation edged up in July boosted sterling, in turn impacting the FTSE as a strong pound can impact exporters. Miners such as Anglo American and BHP Billiton fell as copper prices dropped towards six-year lows, while weak oil prices also put pressure on the shares of BP and Royal Dutch Shell. The oil and metals sectors have come under pressure after major commodities consumer China devalued its currency last week, fuelling fears about its economy. The FTSE 100 has given up its gains made earlier in the year, and is currently down nearly 1 percent since the start of 2015.
