News: BHP UPDATE 1-Sterling ramps up the pressure on Britain's FTSE 100

• FTSE 100 down 0.7 pct at close
• Sterling rallies after EU's Barnier offers close ties
• Shares in oil producers, consumer stocks weigh
• Aston Martin plans IPO

(Recasts, adds quote and detail, updates prices at close)

The UK's top share index slid on Wednesday, under pressure from a bounce in the pound on the back of remarks from the European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier, who offered Britain close ties after Brexit.

The blue chip FTSE 100 .FTSE index ended the session down 0.7 percent at 7,563.21 points, underperforming a broadly positive European equity markets.

The EU's Barnier said that the bloc was prepared to offer Britain a partnership, though no "single market a la carte", which sent sterling soaring.

"Barnier’s comments are clearly positive for the Brexit negotiations and indicates that we are about to get some sort of deal before the end of the year," Neil Wilson, chief market analyst for Markets.com, said.

The FTSE tends to come under pressure from a stronger domestic currency, given that a sizeable chunk of its constituents earn revenues in dollars.

Stocks in the consumer staples sector came under particular pressure, with shares in British American Tobacco BATS.L and Diageo DGE.L down 1.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

Shares in UK-listed oil and gas firms took the most points off the index, with BP BP.L and Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L both down around 1 percent.

Shares in mining companies were also on the backfoot as worries over Chinese demand and a stronger dollar hit the price of London copper.

Glencore GLEN.L , Rio Tinto RIO.L BHP Billiton BLT.L and Anglo American AAL.L all retreated between 0.7 to 1.8 percent.

The mood in markets more broadly was cautious, however, as optimism faded over a proposed trade deal between the United States and Mexico given that questions remain over whether Canada will also agree to the revised trade terms.

A looming deadline on U.S. tariffs with China also kept markets on edge.

"There is still a little optimism doing the rounds in light of the U.S.-Mexico trade deal, but investors haven’t been given another reason to buy into the market," David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said.

The UK's mid cap index .FTMC was also subdued, trading 0.5 percent lower.

In a sign of confidence, however, luxury carmaker Aston Martin set out plans to float on the London Stock Exchange, hoping to complete the flotation this year.

"The brand strength is unquestionable but at the end of the day some investors will only want to get involved if the business can sell more units than it did in the previous year and at a higher price, and continue this trend ad infinitum," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

((  
For related prices, Reuters users may click on - *  

UK stock report FTSE index: 0#.FTS6

 techMARK 100 index:  .FTT1X		  FTSE future	  0#FFI:   
 Gilt future		0#FLG:		  Smallcap index:	 .FTSC   
 FTSE 250 index:	  .FTMC		   FTSE 350 index:	 .FTLC   
 Market digest:	   .AD.L		   Top 10 by vol:	  .AV.L   
 Top price gainer   .NG.L		   Top % gainer	  .PG.L   
 Top price loser	.NL.L		   Top % loser	   .PL.L   
 * For related news, click on - * 

 UK hot stock	  [HOT and GB]	 Wall Street:			 
 Gilts report:					 Euro bond report	

Pan European stock report: Tokyo stock HK stock Sterling report: Dollar report:

• For company prices, click on - * Company directory: UKEQ By sector: FTAX

 European Equities speed guide................  EUR/EQUITY   

FTSE Eurotop 300 index........................... .FTEU3 DJ STOXX index................................... .STOXX Top 10 STOXX sectors........................ .PGL.STOXXS Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors................... .PGL.STOXXES Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors.................. .PGL.FTEU3S Top 25 European pct gainers.................... .PG.PEUR Top 25 European pct losers..................... .PL.PEUR ))