Miners, broker downgrades weigh on UK's FTSE 100

(Reuters) - UK's top share index fell on Tuesday, as miners came under pressure for a third day after metal prices slumped on worries over fresh COVID-19 lockdowns in China, while a handful of bearish brokerage actions also weighed on stocks.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 was down 0.5% by 0731 GMT and the domestically oriented FTSE 250 index dropped 0.9%.

Britain's industrial metals and mining index dropped 2.1% as copper prices slid on the back of a strong U.S. dollar and COVID-19 curbs in top consumer China and higher benchmark interest rates globally. [MET/L]

Meanwhile, Britain's new prime minister will be announced on Sept. 5, with the first votes to begin eliminating candidates in a crowded and increasingly unpredictable and divisive contest to replace Boris Johnson this week.

Mall operator Hammerson tumbled 7.6% and real-estate firm British Land fell 3.2% after Royal Bank of Canada downgraded their shares to "underperform".

Among mid-caps, shares of Plus500 climbed 3.1% after the online trading platform forecast its annual revenue and profit ahead of market expectations, benefiting from a surge in market volatility.

(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)