UPDATE 1-FTSE 100 slips as no-deal Brexit fears outweigh vaccine cheer

(Adds comments, updates prices)
* Boris Johnson to meet European Commission president
* Retail sales takes hit in November
* Ashtead up on upbeat outlook
* FTSE 100 down 0.1%, FTSE 250 flat

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By Shivani Kumaresan
Dec 8 (Reuters) - London's blue-chip FTSE 100 index fell on
Tuesday as growing fears of a no-deal Brexit dominated early
trading on a day Britain became the first Western country to
start mass-vaccinations to prevent coronavirus infections.
The exporter-heavy FTSE 100 .FTSE fell 0.1% by 0919 GMT
despite a weakening pound, after hitting a fresh nine-month high
in the previous session. GBP/
With just over three weeks before Britain completes its
journey out of the EU, leaders are to meet face-to-face to try
to seal a post-Brexit trade deal to govern $1 trillion in annual
trade after failing again to narrow their differences on Monday.
The timing of the meeting is yet to be confirmed. "Brexit remains unresolved despite extensive talks with an
apparent deadline fluctuating between Wednesday and Thursday
this week while efforts to get a bi-partisan stimulus package
away in the U.S. continue," AJ Bell Investment Director Russ
Mould said.
"How both these scenarios play out are likely to set the
tone for the last few weeks of 2020 and the first part of 2021."
The FTSE 100, however, is on track to record its biggest
quarterly gain since 2010 after being boosted by hopes that a
working COVID-19 vaccine would spur a global economic recovery
next year.
The mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC , considered a barometer of
Brexit sentiment, traded little changed.
Britain began rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine developed by
Pfizer and BioNTech, becoming the first Western country to start
vaccinating its general population. Meanwhile, data on Tuesday showed British retail sales
growth slowed in November as stores were shut as part of a new
four-week lockdown. Among individual movers, rental equipment provider Ashtead
AHT.L jumped 3.5% after raising its annual outlook.