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* FTSE 100 slides 3.5%, FTSE 250 down 3.3%
March 18 (Reuters) - Britain's stock markets toppled on
Wednesday, as more stimulus measures by policymakers to support
global growth failed to quell worries about the economic fallout
of the coronavirus pandemic.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 .FTSE fell 3.5% by 0816 GMT, with
miners, oil & gas companies and life insurers leading declines.
IT company Micro Focus International MCRO.L slumped 9.4%
as it scrapped final dividend as part of its plan to brace for
the fall out of the pandemic. UK shares closed higher on Tuesday after the Trump
administration pushed for a $1 trillion stimulus package and UK
government's 330 billion-pound ($399 billion) lifeline of loan
guarantees, among others. That, however, was short-lived as more companies came out
with drastic warnings.
Pub group Marston's MARS.L dropped 7.9% as it said it was
unlikely to recommend an interim dividend and was in discussions
to have the option of having debt covenants waived later this
year.