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* FTSE 100 down 0.2%, FTSE 250 adds 0.03%
April 26 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 edged lower on Monday
as export-oriented companies and heavyweight energy stocks
dipped, while shares of Pearson jumped on an upbeat
first-quarter earnings update.
The blue-chip index .FTSE fell 0.2% as a stronger pound
hit shares in large dollar-earning consumer staples companies
Diageo DGE.L , British American Tobacco BATS.L and Unilever
ULVR.L .
Heavyweight oil majors BP Plc BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell
RDSa.L fell because of lower crude prices and were among the
biggest drags to the index. O/R
The mining index .FTNMX551020 rose as Chilean miner
Antofagasta ANTO.L gained 1.1% after copper prices hit their
highest in over 10 years. MET/L
The domestically focussed mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC
inched 0.03% higher.
Global education group Pearson PSON.L rose to the top of
the FTSE 100 index with a 3.3% rise after posting a 5% increase
in underlying revenue growth in the first quarter, helped by
strong demand for online learning courses.