THE FTSE 100 Index paused for breath yesterday closing down 36.9 points to 5556.

Resources-based stocks have gained in recent sessions following a run of positive economic figures, including a better-thanexpected Chinese manufacturing report. This helped the FTSE to climb 44 points on Friday. But with investors on edge ahead of jobs numbers in the US later in the week, Xstrata fell 32.5p to 1209p, and BP slipped 10.4p to 430.1p after showing signs of recovery in recent days.

News of a surprise pickup in UK construction activity last month failed to help stocks, although the industry survey data gave sterling a boost.

Back in the FTSE 100, satellite firm Inmarsat was another faller after news that hedge fund Harbinger was looking at the possible sale of all or part of its 28 per cent shareholding in the group.

Shares in Inmarsat dropped 13.5p to 655p, as it hit hopes that Harbinger will bid for the company.

Shares in supermarket Tesco made tentative gains ahead of the group’s keenly-awaited half-year results today, with shares up 2.3p at 430.4p.

While profits are expected to rise to £1.6bn, compared with £1.42bn a year earlier, all eyes will be on latest sales performance after growth nearly ground to a halt in its first quarter.

News on key hires helped National Grid and FTSE 250 firm Yell move higher.

Power group National Grid rose to the top of the FTSE risers board – up 12.5p to 553.5p – as it named former Cadbury finance chief Andrew Bonfield as finance director from November 1. He will replace Steve Lucas, who retires from the board at the end of this year.

Yellow Pages firm Yell added 1p to 15.5p on the appointment of Tony Bates – formerly of telecoms group Colt and music firm EMI – as chief financial officer.

Also in the FTSE 250, Premier Foods shares jumped ten per cent after the UK’s biggest food producer confirmed it was considering a sale of meat substitute Quorn as it comes under pressure to reduce a £1.4bn debt mountain.

Shares improved 1.7p to 17.9p as it said it received a number of approaches.

There was also a rise for Newcastle-based oil services firm Wellstream after a newspaper linked US General Electric to a takeover bid. Shares jumped 15.5p to 789p.