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* FTSE 100 up 1.5%, FTSE 250 added 2%
* Catering giant Compass Group slips after flagging profit
hit
March 17 (Reuters) - UK shares inched higher from eight-year
lows on Tuesday, a day after a dramatic global sell-off on alarm
about the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.
Following historic falls on Wall Street on Monday that saw
the S&P 500 .SPX post its worst day since the 1987 "Black
Monday" rout, markets across the globe attempted to steady.
London's blue-chip index FTSE 100 .FTSE rose 1.5%, while
domestically focussed FTSE MID250 index .FTMC gained 2%.
The world's biggest catering firm Compass Group CPG.L
slumped 10.3% to the bottom of FTSE 100 after it warned of
half-yearly operating profit hit due to steps taken by
governments and businesses to contain the spread of the
coronavirus. British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to outline
more support for businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak
after the government advised people to avoid pubs, clubs,
restaurants, cinemas and theatres.