The weakness in UK markets have been triggered by waning hopes of more accommodative policies from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Fed Chariman Jerome Powell is expected to speak later today.

The FTSE 100, an index of blue-chip stocks, slipped 0.1% and the FTSE 250 midcap index dropped 0.2% by 0708 GMT.

Fashion group Superdry fell 10% to a more than seven-month low after reporting a loss compared to a year-earlier profit. Recruitment firm PageGroup fell 10.5% among midcaps after warning on earnings amid Brexit uncertainties.

PageGroup's rivals Hays and Robert Walters were also down 5.7% and 1.7%, respectively.