FTSE 100 slips on global nerves, pub chain Ei surges

Britain's FTSE 100 followed other major stock markets lower on Thursday as initial batches of corporate earnings jangled nerves over global growth, while losses for London's mid-cap index were capped by a buyout of pub operator Ei Group. All but one of the blue-chip index's sectors were in the red as it shed 0.4% in early deals. The mid-cap FTSE 250 lost 0.2% by 0709 GMT.

Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate Pub Company agreed to buy Ei Group for 285 pence a share, a 38% premium to Wednesday's close that sent the mid-cap pub chain's stock to its highest in more than a decade. AIM-listed online fashion retailer ASOS tanked almost 20%, as it blamed operational issues for its third profit warning in eight months.