British FTSE 100 edges down slightly on Tuesday

FTSE 100 Index, the British benchmark stock market gauge, Tuesday edged down 0.03 percent, or 2.05 points, to 6686.57 points, as Britain's Construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) sank more than expected.

British construction purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 57.1 in July 2015 from June's four-month high of 58.1, said Markit Economics Limited Tuesday.

The index was lower than the market expectation consensus of 58.5, though it has registered the 27th month of exceeding the 50.0 activities expansion threshold.

Shire Plc decreased by 5.85 percent, topping the losers of the blue chips, as the Dublin-headquartered pharmaceuticals group made a hostile takeover approach for US immune deficiencies specialist Baxalta.

Prices of Coca-Cola HBC, ARM Holdings, Standard Life and Standard Chartered dropped by 5.65 percent, 4.53 percent, 3.26 percent and 2.21 percent respectively.

Meggitt led the top gainers of the blue chips with a share price increase of 7.93 percent, followed by Smiths Group (4.44 percent), Old Mutual (2.81 percent), Direct Line Insurance (2.68 percent) and Mondi (2.59 percent).

Trading volume in FTSE 100 companies was around 100 percent larger than its 30-day average. And the index has gained 4.16 percent so far this year.