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* Hays jumps on strong jobs market forecast
* Global shares ease ahead of Fed symposium
* FTSE 100 down 0.4%, FTSE 250 off 0.1%
(Updates to close)
By Shashank Nayar and Amal S
Aug 26 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 fell on Thursday,
dragged down by heavyweight mining and financial stocks, as
investors weighed risks from rising global COVID-19 infections
and supply chain disruptions.
The blue-chip FTSE 100 index ended 0.4% lower,
snapping a four-day winning streak, with Rio Tinto, BHP
Group, Anglo American and Polymetal
International being among the top drags.
The domestically focussed mid-cap index eased 0.1%
after scaling record highs in the previous session, with
travel-related stocks leading the declines.
"Broadly speaking we're seeing a lot more caution in the
market today ahead of tomorrow's event... and some profit taking
may be kicking in some of these commodity markets alongside a
little bit of risk aversion," said Craig Erlam, senior market
analyst at Oanda.
The FTSE 100 has recovered 10.2% so far this year, supported
by easing COVID-related restrictions and dovish central bank
policies. The index had slumped 14% last year amid the pandemic.
The FTSE 100 still underperforms its European and U.S. peers
as it is more likely to be affected by global factors such as a
weaker dollar as most companies listed on it have a wider
international presence.
Global stocks eased as investors reduced their risk exposure
ahead of the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium on Friday
and what central bank Chair Jerome Powell might say about U.S.
tapering monetary stimulus.
"If Powell maintains the line that policymakers recently
looking to taper this year, then I think the markets could be in
for a bit of a nasty surprise and I think that's seems to be
what they're kind of positioning for," Erlam added.
Among stocks, recruitment agency Hays Plc added
4.1% after it forecast a "dramatic" recovery in the jobs market
and said it would resume dividends.
U.K. bakery and fast food chain Greggs Plc rose 0.2%
even after it became the latest food business to acknowledge a
hit from supply chain interruptions. Retail stocks
were down 0.3%.
(Reporting by Shashank Nayar and Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing
by Subhranshu Sahu and Bernadette Baum)