Britain's FTSE dragged down by mining shares; Wolseley slumps

(ADVISORY- Reuters plans to replace intra-day European and UK stock market reports with a Live Markets blog on Eikon - see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets for site in development. See the bottom of the report for more details)

* FTSE 100 index down 1.2 pct

* Mining shares track metals prices lower

* Wolseley (LSE: WOS.L - news) falls after results

* Brexit worries weigh on housebuilders

By Kit Rees

LONDON, June 1 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index retreated from a one-month high on Wednesday, with Wolseley's slumping after poor results and mining shares falling after metals prices dropped.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed 0.6 percent lower at 6,191.93 points, a day after hitting its highest level since late April.

The UK mining index fell 1.9 percent as metals prices dropped following weak factory data from China and Europe. Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in mining companies Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L - news) , Antofagasta (Other OTC: ANFGF - news) and Anglo American (LSE: AAL.L - news) fell 1.3 to 3.8 percent.

"Today's losses come after a raft of mixed data from across the globe. A more prominent bearish sentiment is now overpowering the hitherto bullish dominance that had ushered us to recent highs," said Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.

British heating and products supplier Wolseley dropped 5.5 percent, the biggest one-day percentage drop since September last year, after the company reported a slowdown in revenue growth for the third quarter, reflecting subdued demand in some markets .

As a result, the company said, it would accelerate its restructuring in Britain and Europe.

"Investors here are focusing on the short-term slowdown for demand that the company reported in this morning's update, rather than the overall progress that's being made despite the deflationary headwinds," Tony Cross, market analyst at Trustnet Direct, said in a note.

British housebuilders were also in negative territory, with analysts citing Tuesday's ICM poll which indicated that British voters were leaning towards a vote to leave the European Union in a June 23 referendum.

Shares in Persimmon (Other OTC: PSMMF - news) , Berkeley Group, Barratt Developments (LSE: BDEV.L - news) and Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.L - news) fell 2.9 to 3.7 percent. ADVISORY- Reuters plans to replace intra-day European and UK stock market reports with a Live Markets blog on Eikon (see cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets for site in development). In a real-time, multimedia format from 0600 London time through the 1630 closing bell, it will include the best of our market reporting, Stocks Buzz service, Eikon graphics, Reuters pictures, eye-catching research and market zeitgeist. Breaking news and dramatic market moves will continue to be alerted to all clients and we will continue to provide a short opening story and comprehensive closing reports.

If you have any thoughts, suggestions or feedback on this, please email mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com.

Mike Dolan, Markets Editor EMEA.

(Additional reporting by Atul Prakash, editing by Larry King)