LIVE MARKETS-FTSE 100 steady

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FTSE 100 STEADY

British stocks got off to a steady start on Thursday, helped by a US-Ukraine minerals deal, upbeat earnings from tech giants Microsoft and Meta, and hopes of a US trade accord with China.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE hovered between positive and negative territory following slight gains the day before and was last down 0.1%, as a drop in crude prices hit energy stocks.

The mid-cap FTSE 250 .FTMC index inched up 0.2% - with the Ukraine-focussed miner Ferexpo FXPO.L leading the way, up 9%, likely cheering the minerals deal.

"The mood music on trade has improved slightly, and a US-Ukraine minerals deal helps, too," ING wrote it a daily note.

Uncertainty over tariffs however was still being felt in the corporate world, with a profit warning from Clarkson CKN.L also due to a weakening in the dollar sending shares in the shipping services firm down 10%.

Most bourses in Europe - from Frankfurt to Paris and Oslo - were shut for Labour Day. Copenhagen was open: the OMX 20 .OMXC20 was up 1%, helped by a 2% surge in drug maker Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO.

(Danilo Masoni)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

BEFORE THE BELL: LONDON GAINS AFTER STRONG US TECH RESULTS CLICK HERE