By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Experian led U.K. stocks to a small loss
on Wednesday after pointing out a number of headwinds, although the
benchmark index trimmed losses on an easing in Ukraine tensions in
the afternoon.
The FTSE 100 index ended 2.12 points lower at 6,796.44, for a
second straight day in the red.
Shares of Experian PLC slid 6.5% after the company, which helps
individuals to check their credit rating, said it faces a number of
one-off headwinds including subdued trading in Brazil related to
the World Cup. The challenges will constrain growth in the first
half of the fiscal year, Chief Executive Don Robert said.
HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC) gave up 1.3%, after the banking major
reported a fall in profit and revenue for the first quarter as it
carries on with a long-running cost-cutting plan.
Other banks tracked HSBC lower, with shares of Barclays PLC
(BCS) down 0.7% and Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) off 2.3%.
More broadly, stocks in London trimmed losses in the afternoon
after Russian news agency Interfax reported that Putin said Russian
troops had pulled back from the Ukrainian border. He had also
reportedly called for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's
southeastern regions to postpone a May 11 referendum on
autonomy.
On Tuesday, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and
French President François Hollande warned Ukraine is close to a
civil war after intense fighting in the eastern part of the country
earlier in the week.
Also on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia
not to sabotage upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine, warning
such an act could be met with further economic sanctions.
On a more upbeat note in London, shares of Legal & General
Group PLC put on 3% after the insurer and fund manager said cash
generation and assets under management rose to record levels in
2014's first quarter.
EasyJet PLC picked up 2.6% after the budget airliner said
passenger traffic rose 10.2% in April, partly due to the timing of
Easter.
In IPO news in London, OneSavings Bank PLC said it plans to
raise GBP41.5 million ($69.9 million) in an initial public offering
on the London Stock Exchange.
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