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* FTSE 100 down 0.4%, FTSE 250 down 0.3%
* U.S. kills Iranian major general, Iraqi militia commander
* Investors pile into oil
* Next ushers in bright start to Christmas trading updates
Jan 3 (Reuters) - London's main index fell on Friday as a
U.S. air strike in Iraq stoked geopolitical tensions and drove
investors away from risky assets, though oil stocks gained from
a surge in crude prices.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE , which began the decade with solid
gains, followed global peers into the red and was 0.4% lower
after the air strike that killed top Iranian and Iraqi
commanders. The FTSE 250 .FTMC shed 0.3% by 0803 GMT.
However, Shell RDSa.L and BP BP.L advanced as oil prices
shot up more than 3% on fears of a supply disruption.
Next NXT.L , the first major UK-listed retailer to update
on performance over Christmas, added 1% after
better-than-expected sales through the Christmas trading period
helped it nudge its annual profit forecast higher. Peers Marks & Spencer MKS.L and ASOS ASOS.L also rose 1%
each.