British stocks down 0.31 pct Monday

LONDON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- British stocks decreased on Monday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down by 0.31 percent, or 18.94 points, to close at 6,104.88 points.

Fresnillo, a Mexican-based precious metals mining company, soared 7.13 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Polymetal International and Antofagasta increased by 7.06 percent and 3.64 percent, respectively.

Pearson, a British multinational publishing and education company, was the worst performer in the blue chips, with its shares losing 5.95 percent. International Consolidated Airlines Group, an Anglo-Spanish multinational airline holding company, dropped 5.87 percent. Melrose Industries, a London-based company that specialises in buying and improving underperforming businesses, fell 5.59 percent.