Oil stocks lead declines in FTSE 100
Felixstowe workers39; strike adds to woes
Wizz Air drops as CFO steps down

Aug 22 Reuters UK midcaps hit a threeweek trough on Monday while the exportcentric FTSE 100 eased from its recent peak on fears of aggressive interest rate hikes by major central banks and slowing economic growth.

The FTSE 250 index, home to several companies exposed to the domestic economy, slid 1.3 to its lowest since July 28.

A cocktail of factors including hawkish signals from major central banks, surging energy prices in Europe and an eightday protest by workers in Britain39;s container port weighed on the mood.

The port strikes would increase the cost of purchasing goods, adding to the inflation as an issue and essentially constraining supply, said Joshua Mahony, a senior market analyst at IG Group. It39;s not good for the economy.

Airlines, industrials, homebuilders and retailers took the biggest hit among midcaps.

Wizz Air dropped 7.7 as the European budget carrier said its finance chief would step down from his post to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Britain39;s slide towards a recession gathered momentum after data last week showed inflation jumping above 10, wages lagging far behind price growth and consumer confidence sinking to a record low. The Bank of England has forecast a 15month contraction from the end of this year.

Investors also appeared to be nervous ahead of the Federal Reserve39;s annual symposium in Jackson Hole,…