(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock
markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)
* FTSE 100 falls 0.3%, FTSE 250 flat
Dec 15 (Reuters) - The FTSE 100 slipped on Tuesday as
tougher restrictions were imposed in London to curb a resurgent
COVID-19 pandemic, while investors awaited a Brexit trade deal
with the European Union before a year-end deadline.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE was down 0.3% by 0803
GMT, with healthcare and financial stocks leading the declines.
The mid-cap FTSE 250 index .FTMC , considered a barometer
for Brexit sentiment, was flat.
London will move into England's highest tier of COVID-19
restrictions on Wednesday, with additional curbs on restaurants
and socialising, due to increased infection rates that may be
partly linked to a new variant of the coronavirus. In company news, online trading platform IG Group Holdings
Plc IGG.L gained 1.6% after forecasting a surge in first-half
revenue as coronavirus-led volatility in financial markets
stoked strong client activity.