** Shares of UK‑listed precious metals and mining companies decline as CME's margin hike weighs on gold and silver prices, pressuring the sector
** After a record 2025, the UK precious metals & mining index .FTNMX551030 has slipped for three consecutive sessions so far, following a collapse in metals prices last week that was triggered by Kevin Warsh's nomination as the next U.S. Federal Reserve chair
** Increase in margin requirements is generally negative for affected contracts, as higher capital outlay can dampen speculative participation, reduce liquidity and pressure traders to unwind positions
** Shares of Fresnillo FRES.L tumble 6%, stock among top losers in the FTSE 100 Index .FTSE, which is down 0.23%
** Shares of Pan African PAFR.L slump 7.4%, Endeavour Mining EDV.L dips 6.7% & Hothschild Mining HOCM.L drops 6.8%, reflecting weaker sentiment in the precious metals & mining sector
** Analysts at Barclays say gold's pullback reflects "stretched positioning" and technical factors, though strong central bank demand and inflation concerns continue to support its long-term fundamentals
(Reporting by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru)
((Ankita.Bora@thomsonreuters.com))
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