London,
U.K. stocks tumbled, led by HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest bank by market value, while BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group followed metals prices lower.
The FTSE 100 Index fell 55.1, or 0.9 percent, to 5,970.5, taking its 2008 loss to 7.6 percent, at 12:49 p.m. The FTSE All- Share Index declined 1 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index lost 0.6 percent.
HSBC retreated 2.8 percent to 751 pence. The bank's shares dropped the most in six years in Hong Kong trading on concern that it may have to increase U.S. bad-loan provisions after Citigroup Inc. reported a record loss.
BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, slipped 4.9 percent to 1,412. Rio, fighting a hostile $119 billion takeover offer from BHP, decreased 4.5 percent to 4,773.
Copper for delivery in three months on the London Metal Exchange dropped as much as 2.9 percent to $6,950 a ton.
The following stocks also rose or fell in the U.K. and Irish markets. Stock symbols are in parentheses.
U.K. Companies:
AstraZeneca Plc (AZN LN) advanced 65 pence, or 2.9 percent, to 2,292 after the U.K.'s second-largest pharmaceutical company was raised to ``buy'' from ``neutral'' at Goldman, Sachs & Co., and added to the brokerage's ``Conviction Buy'' list.
The stock offers a ``compelling short-term trading opportunity,'' due to recent underperformance, analysts wrote in a research note dated today.
Character Group Plc (CCT LN) added 15 pence, or 21 percent, to 87 pence. The U.K. designer of Homer Simpson and Doctor Who figures expects ``substantial'' sales growth in the second half compared with the year-earlier period after introducing new toys.
ClinPhone Plc (CNP LN) rose 11.5 pence, or 22 percent, to 65. The U.K. provider of software and equipment for clinical trials said it sees full-year 2008 results materially ahead of forecasts.
Experian Group Ltd. (EXPN LN) decreased 13.25 pence, or 3.5 percent, to 361.75. The world's largest credit-checking company said fiscal third-quarter sales growth slowed as investment banks requested fewer data.
Food & Drink Group Plc (FDG LN) slumped 104 pence, or 49 percent, to 106.5. The owner of the Henry J. Bean's grill chain said full-year earnings will be reduced because of ``adjustments'' to its accounts.
Metalrax Group Plc (MRX LN) added 0.5 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 18.25 pence. Britain's biggest maker of baking trays said Finance Director William Kelly resigned. Metalrax won't pay a final dividend for the year ended Dec. 31, the Birmingham, England-based company said.
Northern Rock Plc (NRK LN) fell 6.25 pence, or 9 percent, to 63. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the U.K. is considering acquiring Northern Rock Plc and reselling the mortgage-lender when market conditions recover. He spoke in an interview with ITN's News at Ten program.
Punch Taverns Plc (PUB LN) declined 35.5 pence, or 5.7 percent, to 582.5. The largest U.K. pub landlord by outlets said sales at company-managed pubs declined because of England's smoking ban and slower consumer spending.
Woolworths Group Plc (WLW LN), whose 820 U.K. stores sell goods ranging from household appliances to children's clothes, retreated 1.92 pence, or 19 percent, to 9.08 pence, after it said a revenue decline worsened over the Christmas holiday as Britons made fewer shopping trips to town centers.
Irish Companies:
C&C Group Plc (GCC ID) lost 33 cents, or 8.5 percent, to 3.55 euros. The Irish maker of Magners cider said third-quarter sales fell 15 percent after Britons drank less of the beverage and competition intensified.
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UK Dec claimant count 807,700, lowest since 1975
London,
The UK labour market continued to look very healthy at the end of the year, with the claimant count falling for the fifteenth consecutive month and remaining at its lowest since 1975, official figures showed.
The Office of National Statistics said the claimant count, measuring the number of Britons claiming the jobseeker's allowance, fell by 6,400 in December, more or less in line with forecasts for a 6,000 fall.
This is the smallest fall since February 2007.
The claimant count has now fallen for 15 months in a row, the longest run of falls since June 2003 to January 2005's 20-month run.
The falls have taken the claimant count rate to 2.5 pct, unchanged from November, and keeping it at the lowest since April 1975.
The claimant count level now stands at 807,700, and is the lowest June 1975.
In November, the claimant count fell by 10,000, revised down from the previous estimate of a 11,100 drop.
Meanwhile, another key measure of unemployment showed a similar pattern.
The wider ILO measure of unemployment fell 13,000 in the three months to November to 1.65 mln people. On a year-on-year basis the measure was down 29,000.
This took the ILO unemployment rate down to 5.3 pct, down from 5.4 pct in the three months to August, but unchanged from the three months to October. It also met forecasts for 5.3 pct.
Meanwhile, the Bank of England may be reassured by the ONS' earnings data, which stayed relatively subdued.
Average earnings including bonuses rose by 4.0 pct in the three months to November, unchanged from the quarter to October, and above expectations for a rise of 3.9 pct.
This leaves the rate remaining comfortably below the 4.5 pct level that the Bank of England deems consistent with its 2.0 pct CPI inflation target.
Stripping out the bonus element, earnings growth was 3.6 pct, unchanged from the the three months to October, and slightly below expectations for a 3.7 pct rise.
Elsewhere, the figures continued to show a rise in employment levels.
The ONS said the employment rate was 74.7 pct in the three months to November, against 74.4 pct in the three months to October.
The total employment level was 29.36 mln, up 175,000 on the previous three months, the fastest rise in 10 years. At an annual rate, the employment level was up 263,000.
The manufacturing sector, however, continues to shed jobs.
The number of manufacturing jobs fell to 2.91 mln, a drop of 33,000 or 1.1 pct from the same period a year earlier and again marking the lowest level since records began in 1978.
However, manufacturing productivity rose by 2.1 pct in the three months to November from a year before, while manufacturing unit wage costs rose by 0.5 pct.
UK's wait for Dreamliner continues
London,
Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner plane, which has been ordered by a number of UK carriers including British Airways, is set for further delays.
The American company was making no comment on reports that deliveries of the the 250-300 seat long-range jet were being further pushed back by around three months.
But it was expected the Seattle-based planemaking firm would make an announcement later on Wednesday.
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