London Stocks Plummet on Energy and Mining Shares, Trump's China Tariff Threat

London's FTSE 100 fell as energy and mining shares dragged the index lower, while US stocks were spooked by a new Trump China tariff threat. Ibstock warned of weaker demand in the construction market, and HSBC shares slid 6% from their peaks following a move to buy out a Hong Kong lender. The UK and India inked a £350m missile deal, and Drax continued its £750m share buyback.

London's FTSE 100 index fell on Tuesday, September 12, 2025, as energy and mining shares dragged the index lower. The FTSE 100 opened at 9,491, down 2 points from the previous close, as gains in oil and mining stocks failed to offset steep losses in packaging firm Mondi, which plunged 14% after issuing a disappointing third-quarter trading update FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1].

Shares of Mondi tumbled 14% to £898.6, hitting their lowest level in a decade, after the company reported a sharp fall in third-quarter earnings to €223 million (£193.5 million). The company cited soft demand and declining paper prices as key drags and warned that "challenging trading conditions are expected to persist for the remainder of this year" FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1].

Energy stocks offered a bright spot. A smaller-than-expected production hike by OPEC+ drove Brent crude up 1.5% to $65.53 a barrel, lifting shares of UK-listed energy companies. BP climbed 1.24% to £429, adding £5.25, while Glencore gained 0.95% to £351. Fresnillo, a precious-metals miner, led sectoral gains, up 1.73% to £2,354 FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1].

Mining group Endeavour Mining added 1.16% to £3,148, and insurer Prudential rose 0.89% to £1,019.50, helping offset losses from consumer-facing names. Other movers included AstraZeneca, which advanced £118 to £12,768, while GSK fell £27.5 to £1,601. NatWest slipped £5.2 to £542.8, and luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda, listed on the FTSE 250, dropped 6% to £76 after trimming its full-year guidance FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1].

US stocks were spooked by a new Trump China tariff threat, which sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.2% to 32,000. The S&P 500 also fell 1.3% to 3,800, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.5% to 11,500 China Overseas Mining 2025 - Gold And Energy Transition Metals^[2].

Ibstock warned of weaker demand in the construction market, while HSBC shares slid 6% from their peaks following a move to buy out a Hong Kong lender. The UK and India inked a £350m missile deal, and Drax continued its £750m share buyback China Overseas Mining 2025 - Gold And Energy Transition Metals^[2].

The FTSE 100's resilience reflected a balance between strong energy stocks and pressure on cyclical names. Traders remain focused on global growth signals and upcoming corporate earnings to gauge whether the index can sustain record-high levels through October FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1].

References
FTSE 100 Live: Oil Stocks Gain as FTSE 100 Remain Steady; Mondi Slides 14% on Weak Trading Update^[1] https://www.analyticsinsight.net/amp/story/stocks/ftse-100-live-oil-stocks-gain-as-ftse-100-remain-steady-mondi-slides-14-on-weak-trading-update
China Overseas Mining 2025 - Gold And Energy Transition Metals^[2] https://seekingalpha.com/article/4829132-china-overseas-mining-2025-gold-energy-transition-metals