(For a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon
news window)
* FTSE 100 down 0.3%, FTSE 250 flat
* Ted Baker stumbles to a 16-year low
* Ashtead biggest loser on the main index
Dec 10 (Reuters) - UK shares dipped on Tuesday after
disappointing corporate updates from blue-chip industrial firm
Ashtead and small-cap retailer Ted Baker, while investors stayed
cautious ahead of the UK election and a deadline for fresh U.S.
tariffs on China.
The main index .FTSE was down 0.3% by 0815 GMT, led by a
5% fall in Ashtead AHT.L as the company's warning on
challenging conditions in the UK overshadowed profit rise.
The more domestically-focussed midcap index .FTMC was
largely unchanged ahead of UK's economic growth data scheduled
to be released in about an hour.
Among smaller companies, Ted Baker TED.L tanked 36% to
levels not seen since 2003 after it announced the departure of
two of its top C-suite members, cancelled dividend payout and
warned that trading during the Black Friday period was below
expectations.