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* FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 up 0.1%
* U.S.-China trade deal signed but doubts linger
* Pearson, Whitbread drag blue-chips lower
* ABF outshines main index
* Wood Group surges on midcaps
Jan 16 (Reuters) - London's main index inched lower on
Thursday as companies, including Pearson and Whitbread, gave
dismal trading updates, while sentiment was subdued as some key
elements of the U.S.-China trade deal were not clear.
China will boost purchases of U.S. goods and services by
$200 billion over two years in exchange for the rolling back of
some tariffs under the deal.
The Phase 1 deal, however, does not fully eliminate the
tariffs, while the purchase targets, which include energy, farm
and manufacturing products, look daunting to achieve.
The FTSE 100 .FTSE gave up 0.1%, with education company
Pearson sinking 12% to its lowest level since October 2008 and
Premier Inn-owner Whitbread slipping 6%, as the corporate
earnings season kicked into high gear.
Associated British Foods ABF.L outperformed the blue-chip
bourse, as it rose 3% after it posted solid revenue growth at
its Primark fashion chain and stood by its annual earnings
forecast. The midcap FTSE 250 .FTMC gained 0.1%, helped by a 9%
surge in Wood Group WG.L after the oilfield services provider
forecast higher 2019 core earnings.