Unilever tops FTSE 100 on plans to spin off ice cream unit
Crest Nicholson drops on lower annual homebuild targets
FTSE 100 down 0.1, FTSE 250 off 0.2

March 19 Reuters UK equities edged lower on Tuesday as caution set in ahead of key domestic inflation print and major central bank decisions this week, though losses were limited by strength in Unilever39;s shares following a decision to spin off its ice cream unit.

The bluechip FTSE 100 was 0.1 down, as of 0917 GMT.

Investors refrained from placing big bets ahead of key domestic inflation data and the Fed39;s rate decision, both due on Wednesday, to ascertain the global monetary policy trajectory. Market focus will later shift to the Bank of England39;s BoE rate verdict on Thursday.

The BoE is expected to keep rates at current levels in the upcoming meeting, although the focus will be on the timing of the first rate cut. 0BOEWATCH

The UK is heading out of recession so the bank doesn39;t need to worry about the necessity of cutting interest rates in order to stimulate growth, said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.

The bank will continue with its policy, and it does have a balancing act to do, because now the expectation is that we won39;t get as many cuts as we thought.

The FTSE 100 index has underperformed its European and U.S. counterparts so far this year, owing to uncertainty over rate cuts and lack of exposure to technology stocks, fuelled by the artificial intelligence frenzy.

Losses on…