British shares dropped on Tuesday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 Index down 0.69 percent, or 51.47 points, to close at 7,378.34 points.

Precious metals miner Fresnillo gained 1.64 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Multinational distribution and outsourcing company Bunzl rose 1.28 percent. National Grid went up 1 percent.

Mining firm Glencore tumbled 4.24 percent. Another two mining firms Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton lost 4.12 percent and 4.12 percent, respectively.