UK stocks mixed as investors await Fed rate decision?

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 06:32 AM EST

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FTSE 100 up 0.1%, FTMC down 0.1%

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HSBC (HSBC), StanC climb after BofA upgrade

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Media stocks rise after JPMorgan's bullish views

Dec 10 (Reuters) - UK shares were mixed on Wednesday, as investors refrained from placing big bets ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.

The benchmark index FTSE 100 rose 0.1% by 1103 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index dipped 0.1%, mirroring broader caution across European markets ahead of the Fed's widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut.

London-listed lenders HSBC (HSBC) and Standard Chartered (SCBFF) rose about 2% each after BofA Global Research upgraded their shares to "buy" and "neutral", respectively.

Shares of education company Pearson and business information group RELX (RELX) climbed 1% and 3.9%, respectively, after J.P. Morgan named the companies its top picks in the media sector, saying European media stocks have lagged due to "misplaced concerns."

Overall, markets were sanguine, as traders awaited the Fed's decision at 1900 GMT and the UK's October GDP data, which is due on Friday.

Signs of easing inflation and weakening labour market have pushed traders to price in a 25 bps rate cut from the Bank of England next week, with further cuts seen next year.

Among individual stocks, ventilation products supplier Volution Group (VLUTF) rose 4.7% after it acquired Australia-based AC Industries.

FirstGroup (FGROF) added 5.5% after the transport operator was named the preferred bidder for London's Overground suburban rail network in a contract worth around 3 billion pounds over an initial eight-year term.

Berkeley rose 2.7% after the homebuilder maintained its annual guidance and voiced confidence in the long-term outlook for London, its key market, despite reporting a drop in half-year profit. (Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi and Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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