The FTSE 100 was little changed on Monday, lacking momentum for a second session.
Andy Burnham dominated headlines with a prominent speech outlining sweeping strategies for economic growth, devolution, and addressing youth unemployment.
However, declining metal prices pressured major miners, dragging Endeavour down by over 3% while Fresnillo fell nearly 2%, Anglo American retreated 2.2%, and Antofagasta dropped 1.9%.
Also, British American Tobacco lost 0.7% as it finalized plans to eliminate or outsource nearly 20% of its global workforce by year-end.
Conversely, BT rose 0.5% following a strategic global enterprise alliance with Verizon.
Among major stocks, Rolls-Royce rose almost 1%, and BP was up 0.7% as crude oil ticked upward amid a slowdown in critical Middle Eastern shipping traffic.