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LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - European shares paused after a
record run on Tuesday as a sales warning from Unilever and
concerns that Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson could take
a hard stance on the transition period for Brexit dented UK
stocks.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE slipped 0.2% by 0817 GMT, handing back
gains after its strongest rally in nearly a year on Monday after
reports that Johnson will use his control of parliament to
outlaw any extension of the Brexit transition period beyond
2020. The UK's domestically-focused mid-cap index
.FTMC was down 1.1%.
The broader European equities index .STOXX , down 0.5%,
came off record highs. Consumer goods giant Unilever ULVR.L
slid 5.9% after it warned that 2019 sales would grow slightly
below its expectations, citing tough trading conditions in West
Africa and a slowdown in south Asia. Europe's personal & household goods sector .SXQP fell
1.9%.
Airbus AIR.PA rose 0.5% after rival Boeing BA.N said it
would suspend production of its best-selling 737 MAX jetliner in
January, although shares in aero parts makers Safran SAF.PA
and Melrose MRON.L fell 2.3% and 0.6%, respectively.