UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell on Wednesday, dragged down by the losses in miners' shares, as lower-than-expected U.S. inflation data raised optimism for slower pace of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes.
The export-oriented FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index fell 0.3%, while the domestically-focused FTSE 250 (.FTMC) mid-cap index shed 0.5% by 08:22 GMT.
Miners (.FTNMX551020) slipped 0.6%, as copper prices fell on worries that the Fed's monetary policy would temper demand for the red metal. METL/
Inflation in the United States eased in November, raising hopes among traders that the Fed might ease to a 50 basis point rate hike later in the day.
HSBC (HSBA.L), on the other hand, rose 0.2% as the lender said it will no longer finance new oil and gas fields, an update to its energy policy.
BT Group (BT.L) jumped 2.5% after the telecoms and network provider submitted its new Equinox 2 wholesale fibre offer to the British regulator Ofcom.
