FTSE 100 up 0.3, FTSE 250 flat

Jan 3 Reuters The UK39;s FTSE 100 edged up on Wednesday led by the gains in personal care sector39;s stocks, while investors awaited minutes of Federal Reserve39;s December meeting to gauge the path ahead for global interest rates.

The bluechip FTSE 100 index rose 0.3 by 0814 GMT, while the midcap FTSE 250 index was flat.

Personal care, drug and grocery stores sector was the top gainer, rising 1.0 to a near eightweek high, while precious metal miners slid 0.7.

British business leaders have turned more pessimistic about the outlook for the country39;s economy and they are holding back on investment decisions, according to the Institute of Directors39; IoD confidence index.

Entain topped the FTSE 100, with a 2.2 jump, after the sports betting company appointed Eminence Capital founder Ricky Sandler as a nonexecutive director on its board of directors.

GSK Plc gained 1.8, after Jefferies raised the rating on the stock to Buy from Hold, along with hiking its price target.

All eyes will be on the Fed39;s December meeting minutes, due at 1900 GMT, that will give more clues to investors on how soon the U.S. central bank can start cutting interest rates.

Reporting by Shubham Batra in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich

Source Reuters