UK inflation drives London market declines. On Wednesday, consumer prices fell less than expected, ending an eight-day surge in Britain’s FTSE 100 and betting for a BoE rate hike in May.
At 0708 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) declined 0.3%, and the mid-cap FTSE 250 (.FTMC) fell 0.5%.
Britain has Western Europe’s highest consumer price inflation after March’s 10.1% drop from 10.4%.
Traders expect a 25-basis-point boost in May and a peak in November.
Antofagasta (ANTO.L) declined 2.7% as its March quarter copper output fell owing to poor water availability and ore grades.
Industrial miners fell 1.1%.
