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* FTSE 100 down 0.5%, FTSE 250 falls 0.3%
Nov 18 (Reuters) - London's FTSE 100 fell on Wednesday as a
stronger pound pressured exporters, while investors contemplated
higher inflation and the economic impact from surging
coronavirus cases as euphoria over a breakthrough in COVID-19
vaccines dimmed.
The blue-chip index slipped 0.5%, while the
domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 lost 0.3%.
Official data showed British inflation picked up by a little
more than expected in October to 0.7%, as coronavirus
restrictions tightened in much of the country.
Meanwhile, UK on Tuesday reported 598 deaths, its highest
figure since May, and a further 20,051 cases, with a media
report saying British households will be banned from mixing when
the lockdown ends under government's plans to rescue Christmas.
In company news, RSA Insurance Group jumped 3.8%
after it received a cash takeover offer worth 7.2 billion pounds
from Canadian insurer Intact Financial and Danish
insurer Tryg.
(Reporting by Devik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr)
