* FTSE down 0.1 percent
* Banks wane, Standard Chartered slips on downgrade
* Miners rise as China opts to raise reserve requirements
By David Brett
LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Banks pulled Britain's top shares
lower by midday on Friday led by Standard Chartered <STAN.L> on
a broker downgrade, while miners gained after China opted to
raise its reserve requirements as it tightened monetary policy.
By 1150 GMT, the FTSE 100 <> was down 8.02 points at
5,799.94, following Thursday's 0.2 percent gain.
China's central bank on Friday raised lenders' required
reserves by 50 basis points, effective Dec 20, its sixth
increase this year.
Although the move is an attempt to cool excessive growth in
the world's fastest-growing major economy, traders were
comforted that China did not opt to increase its interest rates.
"It's the lesser of the two evils as far as the market is
concerned," Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC Markets, said.
"It now seems unlikely that China will raise interest rates
before the new year and that should give a lift to sectors such
as the miners as it shows China's inflation isn't excessive."
Mining stocks <.FTNMX1770> were the main support on London's
blue chip index, with precious metals miner Fresnillo <FRES.L>
up 1.6 percent.
Miner Anglo American <AAL.L> gained 1.1 percent after saying
it will start building early next year one of its biggest growth
projects, the Minas Rio iron ore operation in Brazil, after
getting a key licence from the government.
Investors will still watch for Chinese inflation data, due
out on Saturday, the most important predictor of future monetary
policy at this juncture in the economic cycle. []
BANKS WEIGH
Banks <.FTNMX8350> were the worst performing sector on
London's blue chip index, handing back some of the previous
session's gains and led lower by Standard Chartered.
Standard Chartered fell 2.9 percent after BofA Merrill Lynch
downgraded the Asia focused bank to "neutral" from "buy",
calling its trading update on Thursday "disappointing relative
to expectations".
British factory gate inflation slowed unexpectedly in
November, providing some reassurance to the Bank of England that
underlying inflationary pressures are in check. []
Wall Street futures pointed to a firmer open on Friday, as
investors await U.S. data, with International trade data for
October due at 1330 GMT and the Thomson Reuters/University of
Michigan Surveys of Consumers due at 1455 GMT.
Back on the upside, Diageo <DGE.L>, the world's biggest
drinks company, rose 1.6 percent after expressing interest in
Turkish spirits company Mey Icki, a person familiar with the
matter said. []
Cobham <COB.L> added 2.4 percent. The Daily Express market
report said the defence contractor's recent share price weakness
has left it vulnerable to a predatory approach.
Equities continue to show resilience in the face of
macroeconomic uncertainty, as investors back the ability of
companies to grow profits and yields, even in austere times.
"The steadiness of the market has been surprising but I
think that reflects the growing confidence and conviction in the
outlook for next year," Mike Lenhoff, chief strategist at Brewin
Dolphin Securities in London, said.
(Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)
