FTSE 100 flat as inflation data dampens risk appetite

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window) * FTSE 100 flat, FTSE 250 off 0.2% April 17 (Reuters) - The UK's FTSE 100 was flat on Wednesday as a lesser-than-expected slowdown in Britain's inflation rate weighed on market sentiment, although strength in industrial metal miners capped a wider loss.

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click or type LIVE/ in a news window) *

FTSE 100 flat, FTSE 250 off 0.2% April 17 (Reuters) -

The UK's FTSE 100 was flat on Wednesday as a lesser-than-expected slowdown in Britain's inflation rate weighed on market sentiment, although strength in industrial metal miners capped a wider loss. As of 0722 GMT, the blue-chip FTSE 100 was flat and the mid-cap FTSE 250 lost 0.2% after posting steep losses on Tuesday.

Industrial metal miners gained 1.5%, with shares of Rio Tinto up nearly 2% after iron ore futures climbed to their highest levels in more than five weeks. Traders were still confused after Britain's inflation slowed to 3.2% in March, but was slightly higher than economists' expectations of 3.1%, according to a Reuters poll. However, the data still affirmed a cooling trend.