LONDON MARKETS: U.K. Stocks Fall As Europe Waits For ECB Comments

By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- U.K. stocks fell Thursday, swept lower along with other European markets, as investors waited for more details of the European Central Bank's upcoming stimulus program.

The benchmark FTSE 100 was down 0.3% to 6,540.60, and all sectors were in the red. Industrials were off 1%, and the oil and gas group was lower by 0.6%.

Babcock International Group PLC led decliners on the FTSE 100, with the engineering-services company's shares down by 4%.

TUI Travel PLC was among the few advancers, gaining 6% after the company said it now expects full-year underlying operating-profit growth of at least 9%, higher than its previous growth forecast of 7% to 10%

The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.6% ahead of the ECB rate decision, due at 12:45 London time, or 7:45 Eastern Time, and bank president Mario Draghi's news conference 45 minutes later.

The loss in equities across Europe also followed a rough session for Wall Street on Wednesday as positive momentum for the U.S. economy stoked worries the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates sooner rather than later.

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