Sector movers: Miners drop as copper prices tumble

LONDON (ShareCast) - Miners were among the worst performing stocks of the day on the back of weak economic data and the ongoing crisis in Greece. Copper prices were on the decline today, after China's copper imports in January totalled 413,964 metric tons. While this was 14% higher year-on-year, it was some 19% below December record-high levels and broke a seven-month streak of increasing figures. Meanwhile, dollar-denominated copper prices were being further pressured as the greenback rose against the euro on reports that George Karatzaferis, leader of the LAOS party in Greece, said that he wouldn't support the austerity measures that other party heads agreed to yesterday afternoon. While his party only hold 16 seats in the 300-seat parliament, it shows that not everyone is happy with the touch new package proposed. A parliamentary vote will be held on Sunday. Copper miner Kazakhmys (Other OTC: KZMYF.PK - news) was among the worst performers on Friday afternoon, trading 4.8% lower to lead the fallers on the FTSE 100 (Euronext: VFTSE.NX - news) . Sector peers Anglo American (Berlin: NGLB.BE - news) , ENRC and BHP Billiton (Hamburg: BHP1.HM - news) were also out of favour. BC Top performing sectors so far today Technology Hardware & Equipment 748.57 +0.80% Electricity 7,990.87 +0.62% Personal Goods 21,840.26 +0.59% General Retailers 1,660.94 +0.48% Tobacco 35,927.73 +0.39% Bottom performing sectors so far today Forestry & Paper (Euronext: IXSPA.NX - news) 5,665.73 -1.76% Mining (Euronext: SMI.NX - news) 22,442.52 -1.68% Industrial Metals & Mining 4,712.81 -1.42% Life Insurance (Other OTC: LINS.PK - news) 4,336.04 -1.23% Electronic & Electrical Equipment 3,212.46 -1.17%