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* FTSE 100 about flat, FTSE 250 up 0.3%
* Pound gains on election hopes
* IQE tanks after results warning
* Buyout offer spurs Consort Medical
Nov 18 (Reuters) - British blue-chips held steady on Monday
as financial stocks supported the index after its worst weekly
performance in four, while mid-caps continued to benefit from
polls ahead of a snap election in the country.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE was little changed by 0805 GMT. The
FTSE 250 .FTMC outshone, rising 0.3% thanks to gains in the
local currency on hopes that Conservatives will win the December
election and deliver Brexit.
Stand out movers included IQE IQE.L which plunged 20%
after the tech firm warned on results amid issues with two of
its main customers, while Consort Medical CSRT.L sky-rocketed
44% and past the 10.1 pound a share bid from Sweden's Recipharm
RECIb.ST .