Retailer Next gains after upgrading its profit outlook
AJ Bell falls after brokerage downgrade
FTSE 100 down 0.2, FTSE 250 off 0.6

Jan 7 Reuters UK39;s FTSE 100 came under pressure on Tuesday as losses in heavyweight financials and healthcare weighed, with focus remaining on economic data from around the globe to gauge monetary policy trends.

The bluechip FTSE 100 slipped 0.2 as of 1003 GMT, while the more domestically focussed FTSE 250 midcap index dropped 0.6.

Financial stocks were the top drags on the bluechip index, with heavyweight HSBC down 1.5, while NatWest Group fell 2.1.

Healthcare shed 0.6, with index heavyweight AstraZeneca falling nearly 1.

Homebuilders lost 1.2 with Taylor Wimpey down 2.6 after Barclays downgraded its rating to equalweight from overweight.

Also exerting pressure on the exporterheavy FTSE 100 was a firmer pound , which stood at its highest level in a week against the dollar.

On the bright side, the retail sector added 1.2 as clothing retailer Next advanced 3.2 after it raised its annual profit outlook for the fourth time in six months following a strong Christmas season.

UK stocks were choppy in the last session, swinging higher after a report stated that U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump39;s aides are exploring tariff plans that would be applied to every country but would only cover critical imports.

However, Trump denied the report, saying it incorrectly said his tariffs would be pared back.

This week the focus will be on the…